3) Hosea 2 & The door of Hope

Hosea's wife, who he was told to marry because she was a whore, had left him. Hosea says to his kids, 'go plead with her' – tell her all the good things she seeks, fine food and clothes, will be turned to a way of thorns. Then she will come back to the open door. The personal experience was mirrored in the nation.

Notice the names. There were 3 children all named by Yahweh. The first name spoke of the end of the Jezreel, the house of Jehu the centre of the kingdom of Israel. The second Lo-ruhamah 'not pitied' as ' for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. The third child is called Loammi

'for ye are not my people, and I will not be yours.' (Hosea 1:9)

The word 'God' is not in the Hebrew. Literally he says 'I will not 'be-come to exist/come to pass' for you', which is related to Yahweh 'He will be/exist'. For more on Names

But notice in Hosea Chapter 2 the children are called 'Ammi' and 'Ruhamah' - “my people are pitied” This is a chapter speaking of the open door of mercy given to Israel.

Israel was keeping sabbaths and the solemn feasts v2:11, but they were also serving Baal. The abundance of food, and the silver and gold were a blessing from Yahweh, but were given to Baal, or in translated into English a god called “Lord”, a god of human making.

I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. (Hos 2:13)

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. (Hos 2:14)

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (Lord). For I will take away the names of Baal out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:15-17)

Here we have a key point– they were calling Yahweh 'Baal' or Lord, or using practices of Baal to worship the true God. Those practices in verse 13 featured love of adornment and pandering to human loves (which is the lusts).

Our God seeks to be called 'Husband' by his people. This is wonderful. Let us think on how close a relationship he desires..

He said He wasn't happy with that label 'Lord' given to human authority (especially not the imported word for lord 'Baal'). Why do so many call Yahweh, 'Lord'? Is it because it is written in a translation? Is it because Jews won't pronounce the name? Baal has been taken away but Jews use 'Adonai', Hebrew for Lord for the memorial name given to Moses. Do we make their sensibility, ours?

Why don't they use the Name given in memorial? Does it go back to the time of Jeremiah?

Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “The Lord GOD liveth.” Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: (Jer 44:26-27)

How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. (Jeremiah 23:26-27)

When coming out of Egypt, Israel were given The Name. Moses asked 'who shall I say sent me?' Of that generation, only Joshua and Caleb entered the land. As that generation passed away Israel were taught in the wilderness to hope to enter the good land flowing with milk and honey, promised to their fathers. They had to desire it before they could enter into it. This was an example for us.

Hosea was told that before Israel would acquire vineyard in a return to the Land, they would be pleaded with in the wilderness.

The children of Jacob, as Israel, were to become the nation that were in an exile of affliction 400 years in Egypt.

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; (Gen 15:13)

Israel, for not appreciating the gifts of Yahweh, went into exile with the Assyrian captivity, and Judah followed with the exile to Babylon.

They were taught to hope, and to seek the land promised to their fathers. Judah partially returned under Ezra and Nehemiah. From there it was 490 years to Messiah as Daniel said.

Then while some repented, the nation's leaders said “we have no king but Ceasar” and so it was that the Romans forced Judeans, or Jews as they became known, into an exile to a wilderness of affliction that lasted longer than Israel was a nation. In that exile they learned to say “Next year Jerusalem” and they said it every year. Now why? Events did establish Deuteronomy 28

And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. (Deuteronomy 28:65-68)

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