2. The Passion Of Hosea

The Old Testament prophets did not merely know what the LORD thought about an issue.  They also knew what He felt.  Thus, Hosea did not merely know what the LORD thought about His people's adulterous idolatry, Hosea knew what the LORD felt about this.  The Passion Of Hosea in my anecdotal account.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

This is uh episode two of um the anecdotal story I wrote about the passion of Hosea Didn't say where did I leave off? Uh just oh yes the rabbi telling um Hosea that Yahweh had truly blessed him and uh they both you know light up a couple of cigars and have a swig of wine and they shout Lachayim to life.

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Some seven months and eight days later, family and friends are gathered to rejoice with Hosea and Gomer as their baby boy is initiated into the Bramic covenant by circumcision. The rabbi and the Moyle, of course, are present. The Moyel's the one that's an expert with a knife. As the singing and the prayers come to an end in the sacred ceremony, the Moyel asks Hosea what name he has for this baby boy. Hosea looks down at the ground. Gomer is clearly trying not to make eye contact with anyone. There is instantly some tenseness in the air as Hosea is visibly troubled. The rabbi queries, Hosea, what's wrong? Come on, just tell us the boy's name. Hosea raises his head and looks into his rabbi's eyes. In Hosea's eyes the rabbi can see a sense of sadness, and suddenly a shiver goes down his spine. Then Hosea speaks in a quiet voice, precisely pronouncing each word. Yahweh says our son's name is to be Jezreel, because Yahweh will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and he will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. Stunned silence saturates the room. A heaviness envelops everyone in attendance. A frightening foreboding makes people's skin crawl. Some few there's no question that this is a true prophetic word Hosea has delivered, so just those few accept it. But most consider this word a false word because it's just so negative. Surely Yahweh would never do anything so deliberately disciplinary. Proverbs 3, 11 and 12. By that evening, most everyone in the city of Samaria has heard about what happened that morning at the circumcision ceremony for Hosea and Gomer's firstborn son. And by the end of the week, people from miles around have also heard about this prophetic word. A few make plans to repent, clean up their lives, to live in the way Yahweh asked them to live, as that of a lovesick, faithful bride. And the thought that Yahweh would, quote, put an end to the kingdom of Israel is truly frightening, but just to a very few. As for the vast majority, they believe there's nothing more than they believe this is not they believe this is nothing more than some silly man flaming Yahweh spoke to him. Most ignore Hosea's message and go on living as they have been. The reality is, truth is, Yahweh is a jealous husband. He will not share his wife with anyone or anything. He wants to be loved, and he will do whatever it takes to have such a lovesick and faithful bride. Many months pass without any sign of judgment, without any action on the part of Yahweh to do what Hosea said he was going to do to his people. Most people take such inaction by Yahweh the wrong way, thinking either he didn't really mean what he told Hosea, or Hosea spoke falsely. Thus, most of the people went on living in ways that displeased Yahweh. Ecclesiastes eight, eleven. Then one morning, Hosea shows up at his rabbi's front door. He's smiling, for which the rabbi is relieved. Hey Hosea, what's up? Hosea replies, Rabbi, I have some good news, some very good news. The rabbi is thinking, thank God, some good news. My beautiful wife, who I love so much, is pregnant. Yes, pregnant. Again. Yahweh is adding to our little family, Rabbi. That is wonderful, Hosea. I'm so happy for you. And the rabbi is happy for Hosea. He wants to be even happier. He wants this nagging cloud of judgment to finally stop hovering over him. But right now, he's just glad that Hosea actually said the words, I have some good news. For these words give him some relief from the relentless pressure of conviction that's been pressing down on his head and his shoulders, making the muscles in his neck tense and jittery. He's hopeful that maybe, just maybe, things have gotten better, that maybe Yahweh has relented. The rabbi smiles back at Hosea. Well, time to pull out the cigars and eat and even though it's a little it's still a little early, a little glass of schnapps, something to warm our insides. As he gathers the cigars and pours the sh pours the schnops, he continues, Truthfully, Hosea, you are a fortunate man. You have a beautiful wife, a son, and now another child on the way. Yahweh is blessing you. Psalm 127, three through five. I don't know what I've done for Yahweh to bless me with such a wife as Gomer, Rabbi. I tell you, I love her utterly. The Rabbi feels a little a little easing of the weight of deep conviction he's been carrying for himself, his family, and his nation, and he's also happy for Hosea and Gomer and the coming birth of a second child. He and Hosea grin at each other, clink their cups together, and in usen exclaim Mazaltov, which means basically good luck, before they swallow the slightly intense liquid. Approximately six or seven months later, family, friends, and the rabbi gather again for a ceremony celebrating the recent birth of a baby girl to Hosea and Gomer. Naturally, everyone wants to know what name Hosea will give to his daughter, hoping, of course, for something cheerful and upbeat. The rabbi being the acknowledged leader of the group asks, So, Hosea, what will you name your beautiful little girl? No sooner have the words exited the rabbi's mouth than once again he immediately fent senses of weightiness filling the room. As for Hosea, his head is yet again hanging down, his eyes are yet again looking down, and his shoulders are yet again bending down. Gomer too is visibly unhappy. She has closed her eyes as if trying to make herself disappear. When the rabbi sees this, fear begins to choke him. He wonders where all the air went, for he's having trouble breathing. After a long, uncomfortable pause, Hosea finally makes eye contact with the rabbi. Then he looks at Gomer, for he is very aware of her displeasure with what he must say next. He then looks back at the rabbi and says, with no hesitancy in his voice, the girl's name is to be not loved, for Yahweh says he will no longer show his love to Israel. What's supposed to be a joyous celebration has yet again turned sour and sullen. Once again, by that evening, most everyone in the city of Samaria has heard what Hosea prophesied. By the end of the week people are for miles around have heard it. Because nothing bad happened from the first prophetic word Hosea gave at his firstborn son's circumcision, this time even fewer people give any credence to Hosea's words. Most believe he's an idiot at the best or a foolish false prophet at the worst. Isaiah thirty verses eight through eleven. Yahweh would never do something so cruel as to not show his love to his people most rationalize. The next day, unable to take the growing angst and hoping for even a little relief, the rabbi seeks out Hosea. When he finds him, he gets right to the point. Hosea, I love you, man. I respect you. But the two prophetic words you've given, well, they're tough to take. I know, believe me, I know. I don't like them myself. Jeremiah 28, 1 through 9. I mean, I really do not like them. But even worse, Rabbi, why does Yahweh keep waiting until the birth of one of my children to speak to me? Even more, why is he having me name my precious children these terrible names? What are they going to think when they're older and realize the meaning of their names? Why, Rabbi? Why is Rabbi doing this to me? Why is Yahweh doing this to me? I don't know, Hosea. Although I don't like these words, my sense is that they're right, even though they're hard to hear. So many more months go by. Then one day, reluctantly but dutifully, Hosea trudges to his rabbi's house, knocks on the door and waits. When the rabbi opens the door and sees Hosea standing there, he greets him also reluctantly but dutifully, as well as with some apprehension. Hey, Hosea. In a just the facts tone, Hosea says, I came to tell you that Gomer, my wife who I love so very much, is pregnant again. The rabbi almost blurts out, Oh no, not again, but he doesn't. He knows that wouldn't be polite. Instead he stammers, trying to say the polite thing, which still exposes how he feels about the news. Uh well, that's good. Mustering an insincere smile, he adds, Congratulations. Hosea looks at the rabbi knowingly. Thank you, but you know what I'm thinking, don't you? The rabbi's head drops. Yes. Then looking up at Hosea he says, But maybe it'll be different this time. Maybe Yahweh is done giving you these hard messages. Trying to say something optimistic, he continues. Maybe this child will have a name of blessing, something like No worries, I was just kidding. Some seven months and eight days later, the rabbi and the Moyle, Hosea and Gomer, their families, and only a few friends are gathered for a third time to conduct the ceremony of circumcision for a baby boy. They have all come out of obligation, for none of them want to be there. They're all fairly frightened as they subtly, subduedly and half heartedly sing the songs and pray the prayers associated with the ceremony. Even the Moyle is nervous as he asks what name Hosea wants to give this baby boy. This time Hosea does not look down. This time he does not hesitate. This time he answers in a clipped voice, His name, Yahweh says, will be not my people, for my people are not my people, and I am no longer their higher power. Whoa it's as if the sound of a judge's hammer slams down at the end of this declared judgment, guilty and rejected. And like the rapid hammering of a jackhammer, the phrase not my people pounds again and again in everyone's ears. Jeremiah chapter twenty three verse twenty nine. Hosea then turns to Gomer and puts his arms around her as sad tears flow freely down her soft, beautiful cheeks. She hardens her heart as Hosea says, Honey, you know I love you. You know I love our children too. You know I would never do anything to purposely hurt any of you, and yet you also know I must say what Yahweh tells me to say. Gomer doesn't even hear him. Life has settled down since Hosea's last word, helped by the fact that there haven't been any more messages from Yahweh through Hosea so far. Then late one night there's a hard, relentless pounding at the rabbi's door. He, his wife, and their children are already in bed, and he really doesn't want to get out from under the comfortable covers. But the pounding is adamant. There's no way he can ignore this. So before the noise can wake his children, he gets up, goes to the door, and opens it. Hosea is standing there. He's shaking, and not because of the cool night's temperature. His eyes swell with tears that spill out in big droplets and splat upon the ground. His lips quiver as he tries to say something, but he doesn't seem to be able to find his voice. Clearly, something is seriously wrong. Immediately the rabbi thinks Hosea has another message, a message so important that he couldn't wait till morning to tell it. Afraid to ask, the rabbi asks Hosea, what is it?

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Hosea tries to say something, but he can't. Instead, Hosea collapses to the ground. There he is. At the rabbi's door on his hands and knees, convulsing as he sobs and sobs and sobs. Deep sobs. The rabbi bends down and puts his hands on Hosea.

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What's wrong? What's going on? Hosea shudders, weeping harder and harder with cries of anguish. He clearly cannot speak. He cannot even catch his breath. All he can do is to wail. Then he painfully inhales a deep breath and exhales a long, terrible groan of grief. The rabbi tries to provide some comfort.

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He wraps his arms around Hosea, holding him tightly in his agony.

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Then the rabbi just waits and waits and waits for Hosea to move through his pain so he can explain why he's so crushed, so brokenhearted.

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Finally, Hosea says, Rabbi, she's gone. Gone? Who's gone? Gomer.

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Gomer? What do you mean she's gone? You mean she went out for a walk? You mean she went over to her parents' house for a little while? What do you mean she's gone? She's left, Rabbi. She went back to her life as a whore. What? No way. Are you sure? It can't be. I saw where she went, Rabbi. I saw her with a man, a man we both know. I saw him lustfully take her in his arms and do what only she and I should do. And I could see that she enjoyed it. Rabbi, this hurts so much. Why? Why would Cobra do this? Why? Why would she shun me from shun me and my love? Why?

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Why would she be unfaithful to someone who loves her so much? The rabbi has no answer. However, the rabbi wonders. Is Yahweh's wife doing what Gomer is now doing in spite of how much Hosea has loved her?

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Is Hosea feeling what Yahweh feels when he sees his wife loving others in compromised, idolatrous adultery, as well as being content to live a lukewarm life? And as a result, as this process that Yahweh put Hosea through made him not only a messenger with a message, but rather a messenger filled with prophetic passion, that is, prophetic pathos.

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See Hosea chapter two.

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The Rabbi remembers how several years back the prophet Amos warned the ten northern tribes that righteous judgment was on the way, and the people ignored that message. The rabbi thinks maybe this entire thing that Hosea has been through has been Yahweh preparing him to make his final appeal to the people.

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From his heart, with the message of his Kesed, his passionately loyal, and yet uncompromising holy love. See Hebrews twelve, five through eleven, and Romans eleven twenty-five through twenty-eight.

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For there's a day coming in which the bridegroom king, the son of David, will return for his bride that is made up of Jews and Gentiles, who are willing to truly repent, honestly entrust themselves to thee, Jesus, and obviously receive the Spirit in order to be born again.

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You don't understand that that's the original gospel. I did a podcast about that. And with her create a whole new heaven and earth.

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Amen.

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How can we sing? How can we sit in the string conversation of us for now thy creations king loss to thy glorius?