Hosea & Gomer

God told Hosea to marry the prostitute Gomer because Israel had become an adulterous and an idolatry land. Hosea obedience allowed God to use Hosea to preach to the people of Israel the judgment of God in their backslidden ways. Israel didn't have faith in God and was a cursed nation. Israel finally repented and truly asked God for forgiveness and God have forgiven the people of Israel and their land was restored.

        In The Study Of The Old Testament (Hill & Walton, 2009) Hosea married a prostitute woman named Gomer and obeyed the command of the Lord and Hosea had children with his prostitute wife in Hosea 1:2 (KJV). “The poignant dramatization of love rejected and love restored in his marriage became the foundation for his preaching to “harlot nation.” Hosea 4:15 (KJV) (HW p. 485) The prophet’s exhortation to Israel to walk in “the ways of the Lord” in Hosea 14:9 (KJV) was rooted in his the pathos of his own heart-wrenching experience.” (HW p. 485)

            Israel was caught up in adultery and idolatry. The Lord had Hosea preach to the nation about how adultery was wrong and how his wife Gomer was an example of living the sinful life of an adulterer. Israel turned from God and got into idolatry. The nation was cursed as long as they were not being obedient to God. Once Israel cried out to God and fully repented then they would be restored. In Hosea 14:4 (KJV) says, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” (Nelson, 2001)  Once Israel finally repented, God’s judgment was lifted off of them and he was no longer angry. He loved the backsliders freely like he love us when we backslide.

References

Hill, A. E., & Walton, J. H. (2009). A Survey Of The Old Testament Third Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: ZonderVan.

Nelson, T. (2001). The Holy Bible King James Version. Columbia: Thomas Nelson, Inc.