Reflections on "God of Judgment?" Hosea 1: 1-9; 14: 1-9

I had fun with this sermon, particularly using the approach of what Hosea's pastor might say.  At the beginning of the week, I was focused on the names of Hosea's kids.  Later in the week, I found myself focusing on Hosea marrying a prostitute and then taking her back after she left him.  Then, I thought about God telling him to marry Gomer.  As I reflected on those three different episodes, it occurred to me that all three of those moments were times in a person's life when I interacted with them as a pastor.   Thus, the shape of the sermon took place.  The conclusion was the final tying together of the episodes.

If I preached the sermon again, I would spend a bit more time reflecting on God's call to repentance that comes with the God who chooses to stay in relationship with the unfaithful Israel,  The unequivocal statement about God's grace that Hosea makes carries with it the strong call to repent.

I was struck that some of those listening ot the sermon might hear Hosea callilng them back to being faithful to God as a call for our nation to not accept the Supreme Court decision on gay marriage.  Likewise, others probably hear Hosea's comment on God's gracious love as being expressed in the decision of the Supreme  Court.  I decided not to bring that into the sermon because I was not sure how to handle it, but it would have been a good connection to our world today.

Introduction: Hosea, like Amos, points out the sinfulness of Israel. In Chapter r you might notice what seems like a court room scene in which God accuses Israel of being unfaithful.

Hosea links Israel's unfaithfulness with the priests who fail to lead Israel in right ways and Israel's decision to join an alliance with world power Assyria and foretells of judgment that will lead to Israel's destruction.

Hosea also offers some fascinating comments about his personal life.

As I reflected on Hosea this week, it occurred to me how challenging it would be to be Hosea's pastor who is trying to counsel with Hosea through the significant moments in life.

So if you will, reflect with me on what might take place between Hosea and his pastor (yes, I know that sounds a bit crazy, but bear with with me)!

Move 1: Pre-marital counseling.

You can find many ministers who have horror stories about weddings and would attest to preferring funerals to weddings, but still enjoy the wedding process, beginning with the pre-marital counseling.

As most couples I have married can attest, my first question is “how did you meet?” which often has a fun story about a first date.

My second question is “How did you propose and why did you decide to get married at this point in your life?” which generally has some interesting stories as well.

I have heard lots of fun stories. Blind dates that became spouses; rings hidden in food items being served at dinner; a bride so surprised that the boyfriend was going to pop the question that she was wearing her invisalign retainer and had to pop it out before the photos could be taken.

Lots of fun stories. But I have never heard a story quite like Hosea's.

Imagine how that first session of pre-marital counseling would go.

“So tell me, Hosea, how did you and Gomer first meet.”

“Well, God told me to go find a prostitute, and Gomer was a prostitute, so...”

I'd be afraid to ask how the first date went!

“And why are you getting married now?”

“God told me to marry a prostitute as a sign.”

I'm not sure what I'd dare to ask next.

b. Stop and look at the image of Hosea marrying a prostitute.

1. God suggests that Israel is a prostitute.
2. That Israel has sold her soul.
3. Sold her soul to the other gods that people worship.
4. Sold her soul by engaging in pagan worship and cultic prostitution.
5. Sold her soul by trusting in an alliance with Assyria instead of trusting in God.
6. Sold her soul by turning away from the covenant God made with Israel.
7. Hosea marrying a prostitute reflects God choosing to be in relationship with Israel.

100. Hosea acts in a way that reflects God's faithfulness by choosing to marry the one who has sold her soul.

1. God chooses to overlook Israel's sinfulness and be faithful.

2. God will work to redeem Israel with love and faithfulness.

Move 2: Back to Hosea's pastor – fast forward a few years to celebrating the birth of the children and naming them.

a. What a joyous time to see parents.

1. Just after the child is born.

2. parents clinging to their new born (sometimes .

3. First time parents.

            4. great visits. Usually pick names

b. Naming kids can be fun.

1. Dick Van Dyke show: Laura, played by Mary Tyler Moore, tells her husband, Rob, played by Dick Van Dyke, at work everyone has an idea for a middle name.

Buddy wants to name the baby “Exit” so his name will be at every theater.

Sally is willing to give him the name she has for her parakeet

The boss Alan wants to him to name the child Alan.

Ends up with the middle name Rosebud, and acronym for Robert Oscar Sam Edward Benjamin Ulysses David,”

            2. my name after two grandfathers; Richard;

            3. Texas legend has it that James Stephen Hogg, Governor of Texas from 1890 to 1894, named his daughters Ima and Ura, but that is only half-true: there never was a Ura. Ima had three brothers, Will, Mike, and Tom. Ima Hogg, who was born in 1882 and died in 1975 at age 93, became a legend in her own right, and this book is her story. It is also the story of the extraordinary bond between a father and a daughter. https://tshaonline.org/publications/books/31531

b. Hosea gives his kids some difficult names.

1. and names his first child, a son, Jezreel.

Jezreel does not sound so bad. But, it was the place where betrayal and bloodshed have taken place in Israel’s history, including the killing of kings and King Ahab, the worst king in Israels''s history, killing an innocent man so he can steal with vineyard from him.

Jehu killed Joram and his mother Jezebel;The name "Jezreel" although pleasant-sounding enough ("he sows"), virtually drips blood. Not only was it the site of "Jehu's purge" (see 2 Kings 9-10), which is alluded to in verse 4 (and which involved the deaths of both the kings of Israel and Judah), but it was also the site of Naboth's vineyard (and Naboth was killed as a result of King Ahab's excessive desire for more land -- see 1 Kings 21 and above).

2. Hosea names his first daughter Lo-ruhama, which means 'no mercy," or “no motherly love” and reflects the Lord's lack of mercy for Israel;

“Hey, Lo-ruhama” announces that God has no longer has mercy or loves Israel.

3. Third child, his second son Lo-ammi, which means "not my people," to indicate God's rejection of Israel.

“lo-ammi” represents the undoing of the covenant language that has been central to Israel's self-identity: the God who called Israel into a special relationship; the God who lead Israel out of bondage in Egypt; the God who has chosen again and again to claim Israel as “my people” now sees Israel and declares they are 'not my people.”

some of the insights about the names are shared by J. Clinton McCann Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation Eden Seminary, Saint Louis, MO in his commentary found at http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=641

100. Let's be clear – God chooses those names not because God has decided to give up on Israel, but because Israel has turned away from God.

1. This is not the story of a parent who had a bad day at work and yells at the kids.

2. this is the story of Israel choosing not to live into it's covenant relationship.

3. and the consequence is God letting Israel go.

Move 3: Back to the Hosea's pastor and now Hosea has returned for some marital counseling

a. Only Hosea comes to the counseling session; Gomer is nowhere to be found.

1. “My wife has left me.”.

“where has she gone?”

“back to being a prostitute.”

2. what does a good pastor say?

Some words of comfort perhaps?

Maybe some tough love, “He you married a prostitute, what did you think would happen?”

Maybe some insightful comments about how Hosea can get his life back together. Take care of the kids.

My guess – no plan for Gomer except contain the damage as best they can.

2. It's a good thing for Gomer, and for Hosea, that God has a different plan.
3. “Your wife has left you, is an adulterer, is back to being a prostitute? Go buy her back.” 
4. You cannot imagine that?  Welcome to the grace of God!

b. Unlike Amos last week who finishes with almost no hope for Israel, Hosea offers a word of hope.

1. God will not give up on Israel.

2. God will pursue Israel.

3. God will buy back the unfaithful Israel.

4. we read Hosea now knowing about the coming of Christ and his death and resurrection, and we know the high price God is willing to pay for Israel, is willing to pay for us.

100. Hosea calls Israel to return to God.

                1. Remember that return is the Hebrew word for “repent.”

                 2. to turn back.

                3. Hosea calls Israel, calls us, to give up our unfaithfulness and return to the God who relentlessly pursues us.

              4. God offers a chance for Israel, for us to return.

Conclusion: Back to the pastor, who eventually gets invited over to dinner – dinner with Hosea, Gomer, and the three kids.

The dinner table conversation is about the power of love to redeem; the power of love to restore relationships.

A story worth hearing.