Many Old Testament scholars believe that Hosea had two marriages. He first married Gomer around 760 BC, and later, he took an unnamed second wife, believed to have been married to him between 732 and 722 BC.
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross suggests that Hosea’s first wife represents Jewish people, and his second wife represents Gentiles who have come to faith in Christ. I think that is a great perspective and is worth our consideration.
The marriages of Hosea to Gomer and the unnamed woman, along with the children he had with Gomer, serve as examples of what is known as “sign” prophecy. Through their family life, they lived out a picture of God’s message to the nation.
Scholars maintain that Gomer was not actively engaged in prostitution; rather, she belonged to a culture that had metaphorically prostituted itself away from Jehovah. While professing loyalty to Jehovah, they concurrently showed allegiance to Baal.
It is believed that Hosea’s second wife was actively practicing prostitution at the time he met her.
For Pictures of Love
When we meet Hosea’s second wife, we’re introduced to four kinds of love.
The Lord said to me again, “Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes” (Hosea 3.1).
In Hosea’s time, as in ours, the term ‘love’ held multiple meanings.
(1) God instructs Hosea to love a woman, which may include fondness, loyalty, compassion, and partnership.
At the least, Hosea is expected to show love for a new wife by caring for and protecting her.
(2) We don’t know about the circumstances leading to the wife’s adultery or her engagement in prostitution.
However, we do know that she was described as someone whose unfaithful “love” mirrored the Lord’s people in turning away from God to worship a different god.
(3) Jehovah’s love for Israel is noble, unselfish, generous, and protective.
(4) Conversely, Israel’s love is devoted to raisin cakes and other gods.
Raisin cakes are sweets made from pressed and dried fruit, routinely associated with the Baal worship of Canaanites.
Both Hosea’s wife and Israel’s behavior show that they are selfish, indulgent, and pleasure-oriented.
Hosea’s marriage to his second wife exemplifies the extent of Jehovah’s love for His wayward people. He continues to love them even though they are unlovable.
Bought with a Price
We can expect that Hosea’s second wife was being sold for debts she owed.
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer of barley and a measure of wine (Hosea 3.2).
Imagine being sold for debts you couldn’t pay. Then, a kind man comes and purchases your debt, only to set you free. This is the image we have in the book of Galatians.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
In order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3.13-14).
Jesus did not pay for our sin debt with 15 shekels of silver. Instead, he gave His own life for us while suffering on the cross.
Interestingly, Rudy believes this second wife of Hosea’s is a representation of the Gentiles. In Galatians, we find that the Gentiles share in what God has done for Israel through the shed blood of Christ.
Paul’s words to the Corinthian church are the perfect response to God’s immense love. “For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6.20).
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage you YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 