Hosea 13: They Will Fall by the Sword

The Rev. Dr. Leonard Payton pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park, IL joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 13. God reminds the people of Israel of their past glory but warns of their impending destruction due to their rejection of him in favor of idols and military strength. The coming assault will be severe, and Hosea is explicit about the level of violence that the invading nation will inflict upon the people, even women and children. The book of Hosea is a love story with a twist. It tells how God commanded Hosea, a prophet, to marry Gomer, a wife who would be unfaithful to him. God wanted Hosea to feel firsthand the pain of betrayal as he sent him out to prophesy to the people of Israel how they had been unfaithful to God. Hosea still loved Gomer and pursued her and restored her as his wife. This was a picture of how God pursued Israel despite their sin and rebellion and offered them grace and mercy if they would return to Him.