And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.
Hosea, whose name means salvation, gave this word about 750 B.C. as the last of the great prophets of the northern kingdom of Israel, and it stands in the opening chapters of his book. It belongs to his message predicting Israel's coming captivity and certain national desolation, warning against wicked alliances including alliance with Egypt, and exposing the sad moral conditions and degeneration and decay of the nation and the gross iniquity of priests and princes. His painful personal history is used to symbolize Jehovah's separation from His people, while his prophecy is full of hopeful remonstrance, tender exhortation and earnest entreaty, looks beyond apostasy to the Lord's future restoration, and closes with rich promises of blessing from God as the result of repentance.
When Israel turns from God to idols and credits her lovers for the provisions God gave, God exposes her shame in their sight and no one can rescue her from His judgment. The chapter presents God as husband and Redeemer, so any backsliding from Him and any transgression of His holy law is adultery. It belongs with the whole record of Israel's conformity to the world, idolatry, and departures from God, teaching that attempting to mix heaven with earth and righteousness with sin is dangerous adulteration and spiritual adultery.
Hosea 2:10-11 refers to monthly ceremonial sabbaths connected with the ceremonial law that would cease, not to the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The seventh-day Sabbath is a memorial of the Creator and remains a sign between God and all who are heirs of Abraham by faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile.
Hosea, whose name means salvation, gave this word about 750 B.C. as the last of the great prophets of the northern kingdom of Israel, and it stands in the opening chapters of his book. It belongs to his message predicting Israel's coming captivity and certain national desolation, warning against wicked alliances including alliance with Egypt, and exposing the sad moral conditions and degeneration and decay of the nation and the gross iniquity of priests and princes. His painful personal history is used to symbolize Jehovah's separation from His people, while his prophecy is full of hopeful remonstrance, tender exhortation and earnest entreaty, looks beyond apostasy to the Lord's future restoration, and closes with rich promises of blessing from God as the result of repentance.
When Israel turns from God to idols and credits her lovers for the provisions God gave, God exposes her shame in their sight and no one can rescue her from His judgment. The chapter presents God as husband and Redeemer, so any backsliding from Him and any transgression of His holy law is adultery. It belongs with the whole record of Israel's conformity to the world, idolatry, and departures from God, teaching that attempting to mix heaven with earth and righteousness with sin is dangerous adulteration and spiritual adultery.
Hosea 2:10-11 refers to monthly ceremonial sabbaths connected with the ceremonial law that would cease, not to the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The seventh-day Sabbath is a memorial of the Creator and remains a sign between God and all who are heirs of Abraham by faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile.