Book of Hosea Chapter 3 Vs. 1

 

Hosea Redeems His Wife

Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. Hos. 3:1

said the LORD... The 5th prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 3:1-5: 3:4 fulfilled; Hos. 3:5 unfulfilled). Next, Hos. 4:1.

Six Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. The children of Israel will abide many days without a king (Hos. 3:4).

2. The children of Israel will abide many days without a prince.

3. The children of Israel will abide many days without a sacrifice.

4. The children of Israel will abide many days without an image.

5. The children of Israel will abide many days without an ephod.

6. The children of Israel will abide many days without teraphim.

Four Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. Afterward (after the many days and the fulfillment of Hos. 3:4) the children of Israel will return to Israel (Hos. 3:5).

2. They will seek the Lord their God.

3. They will seek David their king.

4. They will fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.

Go yet, love... Hosea was told to go again and love Gomer his wife who had forsaken him for her old lovers. He was to love her as God loves Israel who left Him to go after other gods, and who loved wine (Hos. 3:1). He took another bag of money and other things with which to buy her back again (Hos. 3:2); and made a contract with her to abide with him many days and not to play the harlot or be for another man (Hos. 3:3). This also was applied to Israel (Hos. 3:4-5).

If anyone had occasion to renounce his wife, Hosea did; however, he was instructed to love her still. Similarly, God continued to love an unfaithful Israel.

Having been previously separated, Hosea was commanded to pursue his estranged wife Gomer, thereby illustrating God’s unquenchable love for faithless Israel.

Some versions of scripture add “Raison cakes”: These were eaten as a part of special occasions (2Sam. 6:19), they may have been used in idolatrous ceremonies, possibly as an aphrodisiac (compare Song of Sol. 2:5).

flagons of wine... (Hebrew ashishah), are raisin cakes. They are similar, if not identical, to the cakes mentioned (in Jer. 7:18 and 44:19) which were used in the idolatrous ceremonies in honor of the queen of heaven.

Hosea is instructed to love this unlovable wife of his, as God loves Israel. God loves with unconditional love. While we were yet in sin, God sent His Son to save us. Man loves because of some reason, or the other. God loves in spite of, not because of. His love is Agape love. The greatest love shown ever is spoken of in John.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Most husbands love their wives, because they are faithful to them, and because they see them as being beautiful. Israel was unfaithful to God, and yet He loved them in spite of their unfaithfulness. As far as the natural man could look, Israel was worthless. God loved them anyway. Remember, the prophet experiences in the physical the same thing that is happening in the spirit with his people. Hosea must love her, in spite of her unfaithfulness and heavy wine drinking.

The restoration of Hosea’s marriage

As Hosea’s experience with his unfaithful wife portrayed Israel’s rejection of the Lord, so the recovery of his wayward wife pictured the Lord’s love for and restoration of Israel.

The Divine Command

The Lord told Hosea to demonstrate his love to his adulterous wife once more. This gracious act would serve as an object lesson of God’s great love ('ahă̌ḇâẖ) for Israel despite her gross unfaithfulness. Rather than responding favorably to the Lord, she was turning to other gods and loving ('āhab) instead the sacred raisin cakes, delicacies apparently employed in feasts associated with Baal worship. Perhaps they were similar to the cakes offered to the goddess Astarte (cf. Jer. 7:18; 44:19).