When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” (Hosea 1:2)

It is a strange command that the LORD gives to Hosea, but it is a command that shows the heart of God towards His church.  The nation of Israel was idolatrous and continued to pursue their idols rather than the living God.  The nation of Israel had the oracles of God, professed religion, and had taken covenant with God. 

However, they broke the marriage-bond by committing whoredom with idols. This is an odious sin and turns the heart away from God.  Idolatry is a great whoredom, worse than any other sin; it is to depart from God and there can be no greater offense to God than to depart from Him. 

One would have the expectation of judgment to come upon a people who have acted in this way, but we find the LORD saying to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom.”  He goes and finds Gomer (corruption) the daughter of Diblaim (two cakes, or lumps of figs) and her very name insinuates prosperity in corruption. 

Hosea is to be an example of the heart of God for the church he came to save.  Hosea, by example, is going to show that those who deserve no mercy, will receive mercy and those who do not deserve to be the people of God are going to be His people (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10)

Hosea, what a prophet!  It is believed that he prophesied for about 45 years.  Hosea was a man who was willing to obey God even if it meant public embarrassment.  The people of the day must have wondered how he could love such and un-loveable woman, a whore?  How could he have named his children, ‘No Mercy and Not My People?’ 

 What kind of prophet would endure such a relationship?  It could only be accomplished by a prophet who trusted His God.  Hosea knew that God would expose the nation’s sin, heal them of their apostasy (14:4), and change the names of his offspring to, “Children of the Living God.”  Hosea, believed God’s love towards His people.

Dearly beloved, God loves His people (the church, His bride, the sheep) and he sent His own Son to bear their sin, absorb the wrath of God in their place, and rise from the dead that they will live eternally with Him.  It is common-place for people today to hold a low view of the church and rise up in criticism towards her, but may the LORD lead you to have a heart like Hosea and even endure public humiliation for the love of His church.

J. Randall Easter, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Briar, Azle, TX.
II Timothy 2:19
“He who sells cheapest shall have most customers; the devil knows that it is a cheap and easy doctrine which pleases the flesh, and he doubts not but he shall have customers enough.” (Thomas Watson)