Yes way Hosea

Hoseas is a longer run minor prophet in the third person point of view. Minor, like a broken record, due to the length of book not meaning. Though it is the first of the section, what is part of the 12 in Hebrew Scriptures that go before the section known as writings, so the reading of the prophetic voice informs the readings of history and wisdom, while in the bible used in the Christianities it is the books that lead into the Christian Testament, so the reader taking into whole context is to see the prophetic voice for societal transformation read into the political statements that are the Gospels.

In Hosea, there is much that can be unpacked in the 14 chapters. Sadly, this story is used by gas lighters and abusers as the Godly rationale for being a partner abuser, see Hosea was called to be in a marriage with a “harlot”, or back in that time, one that was not pure and unblemished “property” before the marriage contract between men. Yet, not only is this not a religious reading of the text, or a “Godly” answer, for within the story it is not abuse heaped upon the spouse, rather, Gomer (Hosea’s wife) is a stand in for the straying nation of Israel (at this time in separation, the Northern Kingdom) and has nothing but love and forgiveness heaped upon them. It creates a critical thinking approach to the marriage covenant, and what it means, especially in a world like the ancient one where the life of the spouse relied upon the husband responding in a loving way. Today, it would be in the adulterous or abusive relationship to cessate, and then decide what the appropriate reparation would be from the aggressing party.

See, Gomer, was used to represent the Northern Kingdom who had entered into an alliance with Assyria (yeah, those blokes that would eventually take them as slaves) and God through Hosea warning them off, kind like a climate activist in Alberta. Gomer & Hosea then had 2 children:

⁴ Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. ⁵ In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”

-Hosea 1:4 (new International Version)

First up is what we would understand as war crimes & war of profit-is there another kind?- (Syria, Ukraine, or the Turkey attack on the Kurds currently), or rolling back of human rights (The Alberta Government’s rolling back of LGBTTQ2+ rights). See Jezreel was the city where the great grandfather of the king ran a reign of blood shed to get to power and broker and alliance. No biggie, eh? The ends justify the means am I right?

No, but the sanctimonious Religious Right Zealots and White Supremacists say it is?

See how the prophetic words work read into today’s world? Ecclesiastes was right in that there is nothing new under the sun, just the way we try to pretend their is. The next child Lo Ammi (11:8) means “I am not your God”; basically the wiping of the hands to the religious and kingdom classes going– uh yu nope. You are not doing what you are supposed to do…

Hosea unfolds with the life lived, and the sex lives pattern on Hosea and Gomer played out as an allegory for God and his kids. It is about showing that the going through the motions of sacrifice, saying the righteous words, is all for nought. Like the prophets before him (those we dub the majors) and the 11 works that come after, Hosea is calling Israel back to the core of relationship with God: Mercy, Compassion, and Contriteness of Heart. That which Jesus would build upon to harken back to the daily prayer of Israel with Love.

Before you are taken for a political or religious ride, check the heart of those in leadership. It is not about the words, the slick show, the music, the prayers, the liturgy, the rainbows, or even the palatial residences or great programming…it is far simpler than that.

Has the heart been shaped in such away that the actions show LOVE?

If not, do not commit. If yes, then say I do.

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