Biblical Theology XXIV: Hosea

Hosea sets the tone of the singular anthology entitled, "The Book of the Twelve," or simply, the "Minor Prophets" by placing the prophets in the framework of lawyers who bring charges against Israel/Judah/the nations on behalf of God. 
 
Theology: The theological contribution of Hosea is its teaching concerning the nature of the covenant that God has made with His people. In the ancient Near East, the covenants that most gods made with the people had to do with the deity protecting the people as long as they kept up his or her temples, brought sacrifices, etc. As long as these rituals were performed, it pleased the god and one could go on his merry way to live his life according to what he thought was right.

Hosea, however, presents the covenant as something akin to the type of love commitment one makes in a marriage covenant (and toward the end, as the type of obligation one sees in a father-son relationship). What the book does for the reader, therefore, is to describe the things that are faithful and unfaithful to that covenant in such a way as to give the reader an understanding of what type of love God requires of His people. In other words, Hosea helps us understand what love looks like in relationship to God and others. 

Contrary to our views of love as romantic and emotional affections for someone, and contrary to their views of loving deity that merely require the upkeep of temples, the tributes of holy days, and the bringing of sacrifices, the book argues that loving God is a commitment to do what pleases Him, as it is revealed in the law. Hosea argues that Israel is unfaithful like a wife who prostitutes herself is unfaithful when she goes after other men. Israel is worshiping other gods along with YHWH, and merely thinks that bringing sacrifices and offerings is sufficient to fulfill their obligations of love to Him. Deity is the driving force in one’s life, and to go after other gods is to have others becoming the driving force for what one does.  Yet, YHWH demands the sole position as the driving force in one’s life like a husband who demands the sole position as the one to whom love is due.

According to Hosea, to be unfaithful  to God in this covenant of love, therefore, is to break God’s commandments, regardless of whether the superficial ritual activity is observed.  Because of this understanding of love and the nature of the covenant Israel has made with God, it has fallen under the condemnation of an adulteress. Hosea, therefore, presents God as bringing Israel into court, making accusation against her, rendering a verdict, and dealing out the punishment (i.e., death, destruction, and deportation). 

Ethics: Hosea helps the reader understand that to love God is to first have Him as the primary driving force in one’s life over all others, and secondly, to offer obedience, rather than affectionate gestures that are absent of becoming a good person according to God’s law,  as the sign of faithfulness to the covenant that God has made with him. If God’s people have not been faithful in this way, they will certainly be judged by God and removed from among His people. Yet, as with all of the prophets, there is hope of restoration in repentance. If one turns from his prostitution with other gods and the unfaithfulness of sin, God will restore His people and put down their oppressors once again. They will again seek God through the Davidic king, and be restored to the land. In this way, the judgment functions only as a purging of God's people so that only those who truly love God remain in eternal covenant with Him.