Hosea 1
The setting of Hosea is given in verse 1. Hosea is commanded to married an unfaithful woman and have children with her 2-3. The names of the children born were to be signs to Israel as how the Lord would deal with the nation 4-6. Israel faced the rejection of the Lord while Judah will still be loved by Him 7. At some point the nation would be called 'not my people' 8-9, but amazingly the Lord would act (in the future) to multiply the people and join the two kingdoms together 10-11. Note: The Lord is both just and loving; punishing and forgiving. The Lord does all these things to keep His word (covenant) made with the people long ago and to further reveal the various facets of His holy character. Can you image what the people were saying about the prophet and his marriage ? Maybe they were so corrupt by this point, that it did not phase them ?

Hosea 2
In verse 1 the Lord affirms that Israel is 'My people' and 'My loved one'. Note: Here and following, even though the people were rebellious and deserving of God's judgment, yet they remain His people. The  Lord rebukes the people for their sins and their failure to look to and acknowledge Him as their God and provider 2-8. Israel used what God gave them to pursue their own lovers. The Lord would remove His blessings and expose their sins 9-10. The Lord would put an end to all their sacrifices and celebrations 10-13. There is a direct connection with the judgment to come and their sins 13. Amazingly, the Lord still acts in love towards Israel in the midst of her unfaithfulness 14-15. By God's doing, they will return to the Lord and be His people forever 16-20. In that day, the Lord will also return blessings upon them as well 21-23. Note: This prophecy is consistent with all the other OT prophecies were the Lord says He will restore the people to Himself and bless them in their own land. There is also an application to the Lord saving people (Gentiles) from all the nations of the world and making them His people (see: Romans 9:24-26, Revelation 5:9-10). Oh, the wonder of God and His amazing grace !

Hosea 3
Hosea is again told to love his wife, even though she was unfaithful 1a. This was to show and represent God's love for unfaithful Israel 1b. He actually 'bought her' out of the slave market 2. Gomer was to live with Hosea many days and not engage in prostitution 3. This would illustrate that Israel would live many days without king, prince, or sacred idols 4. After that (undetermined) amount of time they would return to the Lord, 'in the last days' 5. Note: For more that 2000 years Israel was not a nation. Then in 1948 the Jews returned to the ancient land known as Israel. Can it be that the stage is being set for the restoration of the Jewish people back the Lord that HE foretold many centuries ago ? I think so.

Hosea 4
The Lord brings His charges against His people 1a. No faithfulness, no acknowledgment of God, and much blood shed 1b-2. The impact of sin is 'felt' in the land 3. They are following paths of destruction because they have forsaken the Lord 4-6. The priests were to blame for the decline by the people, for they were living just for themselves 7-9. The corruption of prostitution pervaded the land 10-14. The judgment that is about to fall on them is to serve as a warning 15-19. Note: The more one sins; the more one is given over to sin by the Lord as a judgment (see: Romans 1:18-32). Is our land suffering as a result of our sins and forsaking the Lord ?

Hosea 5
God calls all the leaders of the people to listen 1. Note: Can revival hinge in the heart of the leader of God's people ? God points out their sins 2-3. Can sin be so corrupting that it prevents one from turning to the Lord, verse 4 ? Though they seek the Lord (outwardly) they will not find Him 5-7. Ephraim (which stands for the Northern kingdom of Israel) will face a day of reckoning as the Lord's wrath is poured out 8-12. Note: Is the Lord the one likened to a moth 12 and a lion towards His people 14. - slow and painful consumption ? The Lord will judge and withdraw His presence until His people admit their guilt and earnestly seek Him 15.

Hosea 6
The call is to the people to return to the Lord, for He has judged and will heal 1. Are the days spoken of in verse 2, possibly the 2000 years from the time of Jesus ascension ? The call is keep seeing the Lord 3. The Lord would certainly return to favor His people, if they did, in fact, seek Him 3b (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Ephraim's love for the Lord is like the morning fog that soon disappears 4. The Lord has done much, through His prophets to turn the people around, but they persist in their own ways 5. The Lord longs to show mercy above sacrifices 6. Their sin (and ours) parallels and grows out of the sin of Adam 7. The breakdown of society comes from the sin of the people 8-10. Judah still has a future (appointed by the Lord) 11.