Africa Study Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 57
H O S E A 2 : 2 2
Then the earth will answer the thirsty
cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the
olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’
23 At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites
and raise them for myself.
I will show love
to those I called ‘Not loved.’*
And to those I called ‘Not my people,’*
I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’
And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’ ”
22
Hosea’s Wife Is Redeemed
Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love
your wife again, even though she* commits adultery with another lover. This will
illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even
though the people have turned to other gods
and love to worship them.*”
2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of
silver* and 220 litres of barley and a measure of
wine.* 3 Then I said to her, “You must live in my
house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual
relations with anyone, not even with me.*”
4 This shows that Israel will go a long time
without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests,* or even idols!
5 But afterwards the people will return and
devote themselves to the Lord their God and
3
56
2:22
Jer 31:27-28
Joel 2:19
2:23
Hos 1:6, 9
*Rom 9:25
*1 Pet 2:10
3:2
Ruth 4:10
3:4
Judg 17:6
3:5
Jer 50:4-5
Ezek 34:24
4:1
Isa 59:4
Jer 7:28
Hos 12:2
Mic 6:2
4:2
Hos 6:8-9; 7:14; 10:4
4:3
Isa 24:4; 33:9
Zeph 1:3
4:4
Deut 17:12
Ezek 3:26
Amos 5:10, 13
4:5
Ezek 14:3, 7
Hos 5:5
4:6
Hos 4:14
Zech 11:8-9,
15-17
Mal 2:7-8
to David’s descendant, their king.* In the last
days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord
and of his goodness.
The Lord’s Case against Israel
1 Hear the word of the Lord, O people
of Israel!
The Lord has brought charges against
you, saying:
“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
no knowledge of God in your land.
2 You make vows and break them;
you kill and steal and commit
adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
one murder after another.
3 That is why your land is in mourning,
and everyone is wasting away.
Even the wild animals, the birds of the
sky,
and the fish of the sea are
disappearing.
4
“Don’t point your finger at someone else
and try to pass the blame!
My complaint, you priests,
is with you.*
5 So you will stumble in broad daylight,
and your false prophets will fall with
you in the night.
And I will destroy Israel, your mother.
6 My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me.
4
2:23a Hebrew Lo-ruhamah; see 1:6. 2:23b Hebrew Lo-ammi; see 1:9. 3:1a Or Go and love a woman who.
3:1b Hebrew love
their raisin cakes.
3:2a Hebrew 15 [shekels] of silver, about 171 grams or 6 ounces in weight. 3:2b As in Greek version, which
reads a homer of barley and a wineskin full of wine; Hebrew reads a homer [220 litres or 5 bushels] of barley and a lethek [110 litres
or 2.5 bushels] of barley.
3:3 Or and I will live with you.
3:4 Hebrew ephod, the vest worn by the priest. 3:5 Hebrew to David their
king.
4:4 Hebrew Your people are like those with a complaint against the priests.
Applica tio n
Disobedience Calls for Judgement • Hosea 4
When the leaders of God’s people lack the knowledge of God, evident in a church, it is because pastors have failed in their
when they fail to advise the people to obey God’s law, or when responsibilities. God promises even greater judgement and
they themselves disobey God’s law, God’s people fall into sin. punishment for leaders who cause people to sin than on those
The people lack knowledge and an example to follow, and who are led astray.
they disobey him.
Leaders should preach and teach the authentic Word of
Like the priests in Hosea’s time, some pastors and leaders God. They should show the people how to obey, and they
of God’s people reject the truth and teach what is popular. should set a good example through their own actions. Then
Because of this, God will reject them. If sin continues to be the people will live holier lives!
P r o verbs & S t or i es
“They Do Not Know Me”
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are being destroyed because they this to show their regret for an unfortunate event that may
don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse have happened between them when they did not know they
to recognise you as my priests.” God scolded his people for were related. We must ask God to shed light on all of life’s
living in error, ignorance, and without love. He told them they circumstances so we can understand them correctly.
no longer knew him, and that they, in fact, refused to know
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me,
him. People need to know and to be enlightened by God to you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the
have direction and be able to make good choices.
light that leads to life” (John 8:12). There must be light for the
During family gatherings, when two Mossi people from cow to avoid “crushing her little one.” The world is complex and
Burkina Faso realise they are related, they may say, Naaf tabda problems can be difficult to solve. We need to know God and
a biig lik n ka mi t yaa a biig ye, meaning, “The cow crushes her his wisdom to follow the truth correctly in each situation. Ask
calf in the darkness without knowing that it is hers.” They use God for this spiritual insight and wisdom (Ephesians 1:17-18).