UNROLL
Dawn on a plain stone house on a terraced hillside: its wooden door stands open, a clay lamp still burns on the sill, and a worn path leads up to it.

’s marriage

Hosea 3

Has anyone ever paid a price to bring you home?

5 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–3Hosea’s marriageA wife, three names, and love bought backChapter 3
  2. 4–6:3The LORD’s caseNo knowledge of God in the land
  3. 6–11Sowing the windMist, kings, calves, and a love that won’t let go
  4. 11–14Return, O IsraelJacob’s story, death undone, and the last call

Hosea Redeems His Wife

God

Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress.

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God
God

Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”

Hosea
Hosea

So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

Hosea

Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”

The home and the nation

assoLove her again3:1: though she lovesanotherBought back3:2: silver and barleyMany days3:3: waiting at homeThe LORD lovesIsrael3:1: though they turnawayNo king, nosacrifice3:4: exileThey willreturn3:5: David their king

Whiteboard

Hosea’s house tells the nation’s story in small: loved, bought back, a long wait, and then home.

Question

Quick question

Hosea tells what it cost him to bring his wife home.

What did Hosea pay to bring his wife home?

Hosea
A grey afternoon at an abandoned hilltop shrine: the stone altar cold and cracked, its standing stone toppled in the grass, weeds between the platform stones.

For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.

Hosea

Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

Hosea 3:5

You’ve experienced

Hosea 3

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A verse to carry with you

Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

Hosea 3:5

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