Season 1
When you hear that God is going to juge all nations you think He is going to wipe them out, but it turns out he rescues them. And When you hear that he is going to restore Israel - it means something different too.
The most famous quote from Joel, preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost is in this chapter. It gives us context to unerstand what the Lord was really thinking when he said to "Blow the Trumpet in Zion." The chapters starts with an "air raid siren" warning the people to get to their spiritual bunkers and get right with God.
In Joel's day he witnesses a locust plague so severe that even the bark on trees was eat back. Joel tells the Lord's people to get themselves into church and start praying NOW. There is real urgency. This is a serious matter indeed.
So much of the book of Hosea has been specifically about the northern nation of Israel and its specific sins and woes. But the book finishes with a Messianic gospel prophecy that Israel - but this time the Israel is a different Israel - will be saved. The true Israel - those of faith in Christ - would be restored. The book of Hosea finishes with hope.
Although coming at the end of the book of Hosea, we have a chapter that lists the horrible, nauseating, and depressing sins of Israel. The Lord had been so patient with them, and from the time Hosea spoke he would continue to be patient. Why did they not listen?
Jacob wrestled with God once at Penuel in the book of Genesis, but as a nation and a people group, Jacob has never stopped wrestling with God and God wrestles with what to do about them.
This chapter contains the famous verse in Hosea quoted by Matthew in his gospel. It got us all thinking about how Jesus parallels what Israel did in his own life, except He did it properly. This chapter helps us understand that Jesus is the true Israel.
Hosea's prophecy of judgement and warnings continue. In this chapter he tells them to "break up their fallow ground," or in other words, to soften their hearts. Charles Finney the great revivalist preached from this chapter in his lectures on revivals of religion and brought many people back to heartfelt faith in Christ.
This chapter starts with "Don't Rejoice Israel" and the things that God had to say to them through Hosea were not good news. They did not please God and it wasn't ok, and they were not to be happy about it. LIke a smirking teenager the Lord was going to remove that bad attitude.
How can you forget your maker? Can you forget your parents? This is what Israel did in the days of Hosea. The Lord announces that he is going to send an Eagle - the nation of the Assyrians - to punish Israel. This is a prophecy of judgement.