Adultery
Whether Hosea's "autobiography" is actual or an allegory the message it portrays should speak to all of us.
He chose a prostitute as a wife; together they built a home with two sons and a daughter. However, the mother could not get her wayward ways out of her system and she left home to live with Hosea's friend. Jehovah said to me, Go again. Love a woman beloved by a friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of Jehovah toward the sons of Israel, who turn to other gods. Hosea 3:1.
In chapter 1 Hosea is told to take to yourself a wife, but by chapter three his love for her has grown and he is told to go back to her, in love, and bring her home again so that their family could be a family again.
In chapter 1 Hosea is told to take to yourself a wife, but by chapter three his love for her has grown and he is told to go back to her, in love, and bring her home again so that their family could be a family again.
The Bible teaches that in the case of unfaithfulness divorce is allowed but it is by no means obligatory. If the partner who has been wronged is willing to forgive, the relationship can be restored; according to the love of Jehovah. If it were not so, how could Jehovah keep on taking us back if we go and follow other gods after we have promised to follow Him forever?
It is true that the Bible allows for divorce in the case of adultery but not just because the guy wants blue walls and she wants pink walls. Christ said that in the case of divorce, except in the case of adultery, the divorced person may not marry again. But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, (The word fornication is Used for adultery (Mat_5:32) Fausset's Bible dictionary) causes her to commit adultery. And whoever shall marry her who is put away commits adultery. Matthew 5:32.
However, churches, in general, have no qualms in going against Christ's teaching in that matter. For divorcees to get remarried is common practice in almost all churches these days. Why does the church believe she has the right to pick and choose which of Christ's teachings she wants to follow?
It is true that the Bible allows for divorce in the case of adultery but not just because the guy wants blue walls and she wants pink walls. Christ said that in the case of divorce, except in the case of adultery, the divorced person may not marry again. But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, (The word fornication is Used for adultery (Mat_5:32) Fausset's Bible dictionary) causes her to commit adultery. And whoever shall marry her who is put away commits adultery. Matthew 5:32.
However, churches, in general, have no qualms in going against Christ's teaching in that matter. For divorcees to get remarried is common practice in almost all churches these days. Why does the church believe she has the right to pick and choose which of Christ's teachings she wants to follow?
Hosea's wife was already his because years ago she had married him but now he bought her back. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a homer of barley and a half homer of barley. 3:2. The cash was half the regular price of a female slave and the 12 bushels of barley made up the remaining half. This is a picture of how much people are really worth - twenty-four bushels of barley, and yet the amount paid for the redemption of humans is priceless, and this is according to the love of Jehovah.
For Jehovah has a quarrel with the people of the land, this quarrel was not started by Jehovah, it was started by those humans who refuse to live according to the "rules of the book".
This description does not fit only the Israelites; it describes North America to a "Tee";
because there is no truth. One can hardly answer the phone these days without expecting to be swindled by some smooth talking shyster.
nor mercy, can we not bend over backwards to give more than we promised; more than we owe; can we not "pay it forward"?
nor knowledge of God in the land. If some time was spent in school teaching the children even the basics of what the Bible teaches, the following list of sins would not be so prevalent in our society.
The least we should expect is that every person who lives in a country that has Christian churches should know the ten commandments. Muslim children know the basic rules of the Koran.
Hosea knew the ten commandments:
i. Our modern age is completely set against the idea of restraint.
ii. The message is the same: You make your own rules. You answer to no one. You are the one that matters. Your universe revolves around you. You should only restrain yourself if you want to.
iii. The ultimate result is bloodshed after bloodshed. Barnes Bible Commentary.
let no man reprove. 4:4. The Targum states it more clearly, "but yet they say, let not the scribe teach, nor the prophet reprove:'' Gill.
Those that do not want to hear what the Bible teaches accuse us of "picking fights" or "causing dissensions". The current trend is, never reprove anyone, for fear that they may be offended.
We must never say anything that is not politically correct, for others may have different opinions than we do, and if we vocalise our opinion we are "belittling" them. It is doubtful that the Christian church will ever again develop a backbone and stand up for the moral standards that the Bible teaches.
Israel and Ephraim. Ephraim was the major tribe of the ten Northern tribes constituting Israel; so much so that sometimes Israel is even called Ephraim. (See Hosea 5:9-13 for a good example.)
Israel and Ephraim shall fall by their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them. 5:5. By being aware of current trends Hosea might have foreseen the coming destruction of Israel, by Assyria, it was only about 25 years away.
Some believe that Hosea preached from 790-755 BCE. If this is true his prediction of the fall of Judah was made at least 170 years before it happened. Was that astute foresightedness; was it a "lucky" guess, or was it that holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21.
For Jehovah has a quarrel with the people of the land, this quarrel was not started by Jehovah, it was started by those humans who refuse to live according to the "rules of the book".
Spiritual Adultery
This description does not fit only the Israelites; it describes North America to a "Tee";
because there is no truth. One can hardly answer the phone these days without expecting to be swindled by some smooth talking shyster.
nor mercy, can we not bend over backwards to give more than we promised; more than we owe; can we not "pay it forward"?
nor knowledge of God in the land. If some time was spent in school teaching the children even the basics of what the Bible teaches, the following list of sins would not be so prevalent in our society.
The least we should expect is that every person who lives in a country that has Christian churches should know the ten commandments. Muslim children know the basic rules of the Koran.
- Children do not learn the ten commandments at home from their unchurched parents;
- those same children do not go to Sunday school,
- so the most logical place to learn them is in public schools.
Hosea knew the ten commandments:
- There is lying, Hosea 4:2. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16.
- and swearing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7.
- and killing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not kill. Exodus 20:13.
- and stealing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15.
- and the committing of adultery; Hosea 4:2. You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14.
- Some versions have this added phrase, they break out; Rashi tells us that this means, They bear children from their friends’ wives.
- and blood touches blood. Hosea 4:2. In the ancient Hebrew, this is literally bloody deed touches bloody deed. Apparently, violent crimes had become so common that one seemed immediately to follow another as if touching it. Not that much different than the shooting sprees in the USA.
i. Our modern age is completely set against the idea of restraint.
ii. The message is the same: You make your own rules. You answer to no one. You are the one that matters. Your universe revolves around you. You should only restrain yourself if you want to.
iii. The ultimate result is bloodshed after bloodshed. Barnes Bible Commentary.
let no man reprove. 4:4. The Targum states it more clearly, "but yet they say, let not the scribe teach, nor the prophet reprove:'' Gill.
Those that do not want to hear what the Bible teaches accuse us of "picking fights" or "causing dissensions". The current trend is, never reprove anyone, for fear that they may be offended.
We must never say anything that is not politically correct, for others may have different opinions than we do, and if we vocalise our opinion we are "belittling" them. It is doubtful that the Christian church will ever again develop a backbone and stand up for the moral standards that the Bible teaches.
Israel and Ephraim. Ephraim was the major tribe of the ten Northern tribes constituting Israel; so much so that sometimes Israel is even called Ephraim. (See Hosea 5:9-13 for a good example.)
Israel and Ephraim shall fall by their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them. 5:5. By being aware of current trends Hosea might have foreseen the coming destruction of Israel, by Assyria, it was only about 25 years away.
Some believe that Hosea preached from 790-755 BCE. If this is true his prediction of the fall of Judah was made at least 170 years before it happened. Was that astute foresightedness; was it a "lucky" guess, or was it that holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21.
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