Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words LORD and Hosea.
Reading
Hosea 1:1, 2 Kings 17:6–13—The word of the LORD that came to Hosea
Keys for kids
- Hosea is the first of the Minor Prophets.
- Hosea is the last prophet before Israel fell to Assyria.
- Israel fell because they abandoned God.
Questions
- What are we told about Hosea in v. 1?
- Why do we call the Minor Prophets minor?
- What did Israel do against God?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors)
Hosea is the first of what we call The Minor Prophets—the last 12 books in the Old Testament of our English Bibles. They are not called minor because of value or importance—merely because of length. Hosea is both the first and the longest of the 12.
Hosea served some 40-60 years toward the end of the Northern Kingdom, Israel. His prophecy is directed primarily at Israel, although Fee/Stuart note that even though Hosea seems to pay only passing attention to Judah in his oracles (see 1:7, 11; 4:15; 5:5, 10, 12–14; 6:4, 11; 8:14; 10:11; 11:12; 12:2), he will not expect his later Judean readers to do the same regarding Judah—nor should we who now read it from the hindsight of the fall of both kingdoms!
Smith comments that in the days of the great Jeroboam II God raised up another mighty prophet. Through personal tragedy in his own life Hosea son of Beeri learned the pain which Israel’s waywardness caused Yahweh. The first three chapters introduce the major themes of the entire book. Israel’s sin is grievous, like adultery. Israel’s punishment is certain. Yet beyond the judgment there was hope for a glorious future.
Hoshea, not to be confused with Hosea, was king when Assyria captured Israel. This happened because Israel sinned against God and worshipped other gods. May we not turn against God this way.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 97c, 119t
Prayer
- Commit in prayer to know and follow God, by God’s help.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s word this Sunday.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.