Hosea 3:1-5
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.a
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,b 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.
Contents: Jehovah's undying love to Israel. The future kingdom on earth.
Characters: God, Hosea.
Conclusion: God's people (Israel) who have gone awhoring from Him must take upon themselves the shame of their apostasy and submit to the punishment of their iniquity. If God dealt with them according to the strict rigor of the law, He would have no more to do with them, but He will deal with them according to the multitude of His mercies, and not according to their iniquities. The remnant of Israel will yet seek the Lord and receive their King.
Key Word: Israel's harlotry, restoration, Hosea 3:3; Hosea 3:4.
Strong Verses: Hosea 3:4; Hosea 3:5.
Striking Facts: Hosea 3:4-5. The reference may be to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, to whom God gave the throne of His father David Luke 1:32. The Chaldee translates it, «they shall seek the service of the Lord their God, and shall obey Messiah, the Son of David, their King.»