I have to begin this post by apologizing for missing a lesson! My schedule last week didn’t allow me to comment on OT Lesson 33, covering the book of Jonah and sections from Micah. It’s not that there is nothing interesting to say about these books — there certainly is — it’s just that I didn’t make time for it last week. If your ward has not yet done this lesson, here are a couple of internet posts that I’ve seen on it:
- Yom Kippur and the Symbolism of Jonah’s Spiritual Journey — by Bored in Vernal (who wouldn’t be! Hey, I have family in Vernal!) — beautiful post with a stimulating and refreshing take on the topic
- OT Lesson #33: Sharing the Gospel with the World — by Nancy W. Jensen — more straightforward, but very well put-together commentary on the whole lesson
- Joel’s Monastery — Although his post on this lesson is not up yet, Gerald Smith’s site is always a good one to check for thorough and insightful treatments of the SS OT lessons
OT Lesson 34 — Hosea 1-3; 11; 13-14
Background
The Book of Hosea is placed first in our Bibles in a collection of twelve short books known as “the Minor Prophets” — called “minor” not because they were any less important or influential, but simply because what we have of their writings is much less than the writings of the “major” prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. The books of the Minor Prophets are supposed to be, traditionally, ordered chronologically, but an analysis of the texts reveals that this is not likely the case. For example, although Hosea is placed first, this is likely due to an erroneous reading of the Rabbis of Hosea 1:2 (RSV): “When the LORD first spoke through Hosea”, which they took to mean that Hosea was the first of these prophets who was called to speak for the Lord. ((John J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, 296)) However, the text of Hosea (Hosea 1:1) puts the prophet in the days of Jeroboam, Uzziah, and up to King Hezekiah’s time. Chronologically, then, his book should be placed after those of Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, and Amos. Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos, ((Ibid.)) and also served as prophet at roughly the same time as Jonah, Isaiah, and Micah.
Hosea was a prophet of Israel, the Northern Kingdom (while Isaiah and Micah were in Judah), before the destruction and exile of those northern tribes. We can’t be sure if he witnessed that destruction, as it is not mentioned in his book, but some of the turmoil of the times leading up to that event is evident. Hosea’s name in Hebrew, Hoshea, means “salvation.”
The book of Hosea presents an overview of the history of Israel, how they were loved as God’s chosen people (his bride/children), how they proved unfaithful by loving other gods more than the Lord, how they consequently fell into error, apostasy, and destruction, but how they would finally repent and return to their true God and be restored to the blessed state of abiding in his everlasting love.
Woodcut Illustration. Hosea, Gomer, and three children. From Zurich Bible, 1531.
Heavenly Ascents 