Minor Prophets : Major Lessons
        Hosea : A Lesson in
        Spiritual Adultery
Hosea 1:2
When the Lord began to speak by
Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea:
"Go, take yourself a wife of
harlotry And children of harlotry,
For the land has committed great
harlotry By departing from the
Lord."
Spiritual Adultery
• I tried to find a picture (not too graphic) of
  adultery. began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea:
    When the Lord
    "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry
• I And children of harlotry, on a church website in
    found this one
  California. Picture = 1,000 words.
    For the land has committed great harlotry

    By departing from the Lord."
    Hosea 1:2 (NKJV)
Hosea Background


• Many misunderstand the message of Hosea.
• This book does NOT teach that harlots are OK
  and pure.
• This book is NOT teaching it is OK to marry
  anyone with any background.
• Hosea is about SPIRITUAL ADULTERY.
For the land has committed great harlotry
  by departing from the Lord (1:2b)
Hosea Background


• God commands him to marry a prostitute
  named Gomer. (1:2)
• When she is not faithful to him – God
  commands that he buy her back. (3:1-3)
• Hosea is an graphic illustration of God
  dealing with a people who are unfaithful
  to Him.
Hosea Background


• Gomer gives birth to 3 children.
• Son – Jezreel – God sows (scatters) = This is a
  son of Hosea. (1:4)
• Daughter – Loruhamah – No mercy = No
  affection, Hosea is not sure. (1:6)
• Son – Loammi – Not my people = Not a son of
  Hosea. (1:9)
Hosea Outline


• Hosea's marriage and children – a type of
  God's relationship to Israel – (1 – 3)
• God's charges against Israel – (4:1 – 6:3)
• God's decison to judge (punish) – (6:4 –
  10:15)
• God's resolution in judgment and mercy
  – (11 – 14)
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
  ADULTERY
• Israel was God's bride
2:16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the
  Lord, "That you will call Me 'My
  Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My
  Master,'
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Israel was God's bride
• Christians (church) are the bride of Christ
• Study these passages : Ephesians 5;
  Revelation 22:17; Matthew 25:1-13
• We MUST remain faithful to Christ
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Israel was God's bride
• Christians (church) are the bride of Christ
• Study these passages : Ephesians 5;
  Revelation 22:17; Matthew 25:1-13
• We MUST remain faithful to Christ
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Do Christians have an “idol” problem?
• The idol of Clothing – shop till you drop –
  Clothing can become more important
  than God.
• The idol of Cash – The love of money is
  still causing many to commit spiritual
  adultery
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Do Christians have an “idol” problem?
• The idol of Children – love your children
  but not more than God.
• The idol of Property – One lady missed
  church because she had to clean her
  house.
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Do Christians have an “idol” problem?
• The idol of Friends – Have you ever
  stayed home from church because
  company came?
• The idol of Possessions – Many wash
  their car when they should be in church.
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Do Christians have an “idol” problem?
• The idol of Pets – Pets are wonderful
  compaions. Will you give your pet more
  than you give God?
• The idol of Career – Some are “married”
  to their work. They make their work,
  their life.
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL
ADULTERY


• Do Christians have an “idol” problem?
• The idol of Sports – Some miss Bible class
  and worship so they can play some sport.
• ANYTHING, ANYONE that takes a higher
  place than God is your idol and you are
  comitting spiritual adultery.
2 Backsliding follows a pattern


• Rejection of the Bible (4:1-2)
1 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of
  Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the
  inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or
  mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By
  swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and
  committing adultery,They break all restraint,
  With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
2 Backsliding follows a pattern


• Rejection of the Bible (4:6)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
 Because you have rejected knowledge, I also
 will reject you from being priest for Me;
 Because you have forgotten the law of your
 God, I also will forget your children.
2 Backsliding follows a pattern


• Rejection of the Bible
• Temptation to turn away (4:7-11)
Prosperity "The more they increased, The more they
  sinned against Me; I will change their glory into
  shame. (4:7)
Not satisfied For they shall eat, but not have enough;
  They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
  Because they have ceased obeying the Lord. (4:10)
2 Backsliding follows a pattern


• Rejection of the Bible
• Temptation to turn away (4:7-11)
• Follow after idols (4:12-19)
My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And
 their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has
 caused them to stray, And they have played the
 harlot against their God. (4:12)
3 God's love is unchanging


"I will heal their backsliding, I will love
them freely, For My anger has turned away
from him. (14:4)
Man must repent - - Take words with you,
And return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take
away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For
we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.
(14:2)
3 God's love is unchanging


God will restore - - Who is wise? Let him
understand these things. Who is prudent?
Let him know them. For the ways of the
Lord are right; The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them. (14:9)
SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?


What would Hosea say to us – today?
Are there “idols” in your life?
While God is loving you, are you holding hands
with an “idol”?


ARE YOU GUILTY OF
SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?

Minor hosea

  • 1.
    Minor Prophets :Major Lessons Hosea : A Lesson in Spiritual Adultery
  • 2.
    Hosea 1:2 When theLord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord."
  • 3.
    Spiritual Adultery • Itried to find a picture (not too graphic) of adultery. began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: When the Lord "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry • I And children of harlotry, on a church website in found this one California. Picture = 1,000 words. For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord." Hosea 1:2 (NKJV)
  • 4.
    Hosea Background • Manymisunderstand the message of Hosea. • This book does NOT teach that harlots are OK and pure. • This book is NOT teaching it is OK to marry anyone with any background. • Hosea is about SPIRITUAL ADULTERY. For the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord (1:2b)
  • 5.
    Hosea Background • Godcommands him to marry a prostitute named Gomer. (1:2) • When she is not faithful to him – God commands that he buy her back. (3:1-3) • Hosea is an graphic illustration of God dealing with a people who are unfaithful to Him.
  • 6.
    Hosea Background • Gomergives birth to 3 children. • Son – Jezreel – God sows (scatters) = This is a son of Hosea. (1:4) • Daughter – Loruhamah – No mercy = No affection, Hosea is not sure. (1:6) • Son – Loammi – Not my people = Not a son of Hosea. (1:9)
  • 7.
    Hosea Outline • Hosea'smarriage and children – a type of God's relationship to Israel – (1 – 3) • God's charges against Israel – (4:1 – 6:3) • God's decison to judge (punish) – (6:4 – 10:15) • God's resolution in judgment and mercy – (11 – 14)
  • 8.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Israel was God's bride 2:16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the Lord, "That you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,'
  • 9.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Israel was God's bride • Christians (church) are the bride of Christ • Study these passages : Ephesians 5; Revelation 22:17; Matthew 25:1-13 • We MUST remain faithful to Christ
  • 10.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Israel was God's bride • Christians (church) are the bride of Christ • Study these passages : Ephesians 5; Revelation 22:17; Matthew 25:1-13 • We MUST remain faithful to Christ
  • 11.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Do Christians have an “idol” problem? • The idol of Clothing – shop till you drop – Clothing can become more important than God. • The idol of Cash – The love of money is still causing many to commit spiritual adultery
  • 12.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Do Christians have an “idol” problem? • The idol of Children – love your children but not more than God. • The idol of Property – One lady missed church because she had to clean her house.
  • 13.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Do Christians have an “idol” problem? • The idol of Friends – Have you ever stayed home from church because company came? • The idol of Possessions – Many wash their car when they should be in church.
  • 14.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Do Christians have an “idol” problem? • The idol of Pets – Pets are wonderful compaions. Will you give your pet more than you give God? • The idol of Career – Some are “married” to their work. They make their work, their life.
  • 15.
    1 God viewsIDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY • Do Christians have an “idol” problem? • The idol of Sports – Some miss Bible class and worship so they can play some sport. • ANYTHING, ANYONE that takes a higher place than God is your idol and you are comitting spiritual adultery.
  • 16.
    2 Backsliding followsa pattern • Rejection of the Bible (4:1-2) 1 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery,They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
  • 17.
    2 Backsliding followsa pattern • Rejection of the Bible (4:6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
  • 18.
    2 Backsliding followsa pattern • Rejection of the Bible • Temptation to turn away (4:7-11) Prosperity "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. (4:7) Not satisfied For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lord. (4:10)
  • 19.
    2 Backsliding followsa pattern • Rejection of the Bible • Temptation to turn away (4:7-11) • Follow after idols (4:12-19) My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God. (4:12)
  • 20.
    3 God's loveis unchanging "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. (14:4) Man must repent - - Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. (14:2)
  • 21.
    3 God's loveis unchanging God will restore - - Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. (14:9)
  • 22.
    SPIRITUAL ADULTERY? What wouldHosea say to us – today? Are there “idols” in your life? While God is loving you, are you holding hands with an “idol”? ARE YOU GUILTY OF SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?