1947 Bible Studies - page 3

BIBLE S T U D I E S .

" Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they

received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures

daily, whether these things were so " Acts 17. I I ) .

VOLUME 15.

JANUARY, 1947.

CONTENTS.

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The Historical Background of Hosea’s L i f e . .

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Hosea: the Prophet, his times and his m e s s a g e . .

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Hosea’s prophetic l i f e . . . . . . . . . . .

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Questions and A n s w e r s . . . . . . . . . . .

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T H E HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF HOSEA’S LIFE.

Hosea’s name is nowhere else mentioned in the Old Testament save in the prophecy which contains his message unto Israel. Verse 1 indicates the period during which he received the word of the LORD, no doubt on various occasions throughout the reigns of these kings.  This would seem to cover a period of approximately 60 years.

We learn from 2 Kings 13. that Elisha died in the reign of Joash, king of Israel.  In the reign of Jeroboam, who succeeded Joash, Hosea’s prophetic life commenced.  The probability is that Hosea lived for some time concurrently with Elisha. [This seems very unlikely. Elisha died about 839 B. C (Newberry), and it is improbable that Hosea’s ministry began until about 785 B. C, towards the end of Jeroboam IPs reign over Israel. --G. P. ]. At least we can see that he began to speak to Israel soon after the voice of Elisha was stilled.  The ministry of Elijah and Elisha was oral and it would seem that Israel, having failed to return whole-heartedly unto the Lord through the speakings of these two mighty men, who had also performed miracles, must now experience the severity of God’s judgment because of their wickedness.  The messages of the prophets who followed were written because they not only exposed the sinfulness and departure of the generation of that time, but they also contained warnings of the certainty of the descent of God’s judgment, and of a period of rich blessing which was in store for them when they would return to Him in real repentance.

Hosea’s prophecy was chiefly for Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes.

He was to Israel what Jeremiah was to Judah, prophesying and giving warning over a period of many years, and continuing until the judgment descended and the nation was carried away into captivity.  Yet although he spake unto Israel, the length of his period of prophesying is measured in relationship with the duration of the reigns of the kings of Judah.  These kings were all descended in one unbroken line from David, some of whom followed the godly example of their illustrious forefather, but the kingdom of Israel was not vested in any particular family.  God took great interest, nevertheless, in the appointment of kings for Israel.  He commanded Elijah to anoint Jehu to be king, and told Jehu that his sons of the fourth generation would sit upon the throne of Israel.

Jeroboam, in whose reign Hosea commenced his prophetic life, was of the third generation.  He was an evil king, like unto all the others who sat on the throne of Israel before him, yet he was used by God to fulfil the prophecy spoken by Jonah which meant victory for Israel (2 Kings 14. 25).  The king of the fourth generation, Zechariah, reigned for only six months.  The brevity of his reign would seem to suggest that God fulfilled His promise, and no more, concerning the house of Jehu.  Upon this house Hosea pronounced judgment. The kings which followed were murderers and profligates and were not recognized by God (Hosea 8. 4), and perhaps it is because God did not appoint them to the throne that Hosea’s ministry was measured by the duration of the reigns of the kings of Judah.