The Prophet Hosea was called the prophet of divine love. He was faithful in contrast to Israel's unfaithfulness at the same time that Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem. He was to Israel what Jeremiah was to Judah.

God prepared Hosea for the message that he was to deliver through lessons that he learned through the sins of his unfaithful wife. He endured great suffering because of her sins, and from that he understood how much God was grieved by Israel's wickedness.

Her sins were not only against God's law, but they demonstrated the exact opposite of divine love. Even so, Hosea demonstrated selfless love by restoring his wayward wife and by this he showed that there was still hope for forgiveness and restoration for Israel.

There is anger in this episode, yet it is surpassed by the beauty of reconciling love. Hosea's goal is for the re-establishment of Israel's fellowship with Jehovah.

The borders of Israel had grown and there was prosperity and generous temple offerings. However, there was also gross immorality and worship was polluted. The Assyrian empire was about to crush Israel because of her sins, and God was about to allow that to occur.

Israel had permitted oppression, murder, lying, and stealing. The people had forgotten God's law and forgotten their promise to keep it. Instead, they had allowed the worship of Baal and thereby becoming idolaters. They no longer looked to God in their distress, but instead, they turned to Egypt and Assyria for help. In that way, they put their trust in prosperity based on human works instead of putting their trust in a hope of divine favor.

Chapters 1-3 describe Israel's sin as illustrated by Hosea's marriage to his unfaithful wife.

Chapter 2 reveals Israel's unfaithfulness and return to God.

Chapter 3 describes how God's love restores Israel as Hosea does his wife.

Chapters 4-8 describe Israel's continuing sin.

Chapters 9-11 describe Israel's coming punishment.

Chapters 12-14 describe Israel's repentance and restoration.

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