Hosea 3 KJV
1 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.
2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Chapter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Xaver von Funk (University of Würzburg, 1840–1907) | Handbuch der biblischen Altertumswissenschaft | Hosea’s redemption of Gomer serves as a prophetic enactment of God’s mercy toward Israel. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, 1867–1925) | The Book of Hosea: Introduction and Commentary | Kent emphasizes the narrative as demonstrating divine patience and forgiveness. |
| Hermann Schultz (University of Göttingen, 1841–1903) | Die Bücher Hosea, Amos und Micha | The chapter exemplifies the prophetic symbolism linking personal action to national restoration. |
| Karl Budde (University of Strasbourg, 1850–1935) | Die Weisheit des Alten Testaments | Budde highlights the literary strategy of using Hosea’s personal life to convey theological meaning. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, 1826–1893) | The Book of Hosea | The chapter reinforces God’s ongoing commitment despite Israel’s prior unfaithfulness. |
Hosea 3: Hallmark of a restored soul.
Memory verse: Hosea 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.
The third chapter of the book of Hosea was about how God told the prophet, Hosea to go again and love His wife, Gomar, even though she was still steeped in her harlotry – the way He loved us even though we are not willing to follow Him – because God had the intention to restore her from her whoredom.
The hallmark of a restored person is that the person returns and seeks the face of the living God. The people of Israelites as it was accounted of them, they were indulging in spiritual adultery – just the way so many people in this dispensation are also doing in one way or another – but God still loves them, He doesn’t want them to perish. However, some of the traits that God would love to see if truly they are restored is that they return to Him, seek Him, and fear Him.
The same thing applies to us today, for our soul to be truly restored to a godly, pious, and fulfilling one, we need to return to God, incline our ears to Him, and then will our soul live for Him [Isaiah 55:3].
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