Core Classes
Hosea 4:1-16
Hosea was a prophet who was active, primarily in the northern kingdom of Israel in the second half of the eighth century B.C. (c.755-715). The Lord has commanded Hosea to marry an ‘adulterous’ wife (Hosea 1:2). When Gomer, the wife that Hosea marries, continues in her adulterous ways, Hosea divorces her (Hosea 2:2) and then buys her back out of slavery (Hosea 3:1-3), all of which the Lord uses to make a point about Israel’s behavior in regards to Him and His love for His people. As we pick up our story in chapter four, the Lord is specifying His charge against Israel; ‘There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.’