Hosea Verse-by-Verse

Session 4 | Hosea 2:14-20

Hosea 2:14-23 | God's Poetic Call To Israel

Verse 14 -- The word therefore“this being so...". God is now going to allure her (Israel) and bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfortably unto her. This is the first note of tenderness in the entire chapter, and things change drastically from here on.

The verse undoubtedly speaks of the last days. Scripture is in harmony when it speaks of a last days wilderness experience of Israel with God. Ezekiel 20:35-38 gives clarity on this subject, and the Lord promises that the conclusion of the wilderness experience will be that **ye shall know that I am the LORD **(v. 38). Revelation 12:5 speaks of the woman (Israel) who fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, and there she will be cared for for the last half of the tribulation. Isaiah 63:1-4 speaks poetically about the One that **cometh from Edom, With dyed garments from **Bozrah. He is glorious in his apparel and traveling in the greatness of his strength (v. 1). The verses continue, talking about the Messiah coming in vengeance (v. 4). Putting it all together, is is reasonable to conclude that the Lord will first bring Israel to the wilderness for supernatural protection. In the wilderness she will repent and turn back to Him. At this point He will come for them in the place of protection and travel with them to the Battle of Armageddon, where He will abolish His enemies.

Many have put forth Petra, in Jordan, as this wilderness hiding place. Petra is certainly in the right location (the wilderness / Edom / Bozrah). However, my view is that the wilderness location will be prepared by God for specific use, and likely unable to be reached due to supernatural or physical means (the topography being changed by the events of the Tribulation).

Before we leave this verse, it should also be noted that this takes place in the future, after“the whole of this present dispensation comes between vv . 13 and 14."While such could be the case, I would not have a problem with putting verses 1-13 also after our dispensation, with verses 1-13 being from the rapture through the midpoint of the tribulation, and verses 14-23 coming after the midpoint.

Verse 15 -- The Lord promises **vineyards from thence **(the wilderness). This is likely a reference to the care that Israel will receive in the wilderness (Rev. 12:6, Ps. 91). The **valley of **Achor will become a door of hope, a place of singing and celebration. This is likely a reference to the joyful return to Israel with the Lord at the Second Coming.

Verse 16 -- The phrase that day is always a reference to the return of the Messiah. Normally given in reference to judgement, but in this case referring to the happiness of Israel.

On that day the Lord says that Israel will call me Ishi. This is a transliteration, from the Hebrew ish (man, or husband) with the suffix ‘i', which is a possessive, thus, my husband. This is to replace Baali, another transliteration, meaning my master, carrying a burdensome connotation. <![endif]-->

This passage, in context or alone, is so perfectly clear that the bride is Israel and not the church. Some try to keep the “church as bride” theology by making a scenario in which Israel is the bride of God and the church is the bride of Christ. This awkward theology crumbles in Hosea, where the prophet is clearly a representative of the the Savior, whom we now know as Jesus of Nazareth. There are simply too many Second Coming references in this chapter to make this about the Father. So why is it that so many will continue to hold the “church as the bride” theology? Likely because they are simply brainwashed, refusing to let go of a theology with no merit.

Verse 17 -- The poem has a play on words (as good poetry often does), between Baali in verse 16 and Baalim in verse 17. The Baalim“Baals") are the various idols that Israel (Gomer) had gone whoring after. They had various names, each Baal carrying its own identity. The Lord promises a day when these false gods shall no more be remembered by their name. This could be saying that Israel (referenced by the pronoun they) will not be remembered by the Baal's (referenced by the pronoun their) name, but will take her Messiah's name, much like in marriage.

Verse 18 -- Again, that day is the day of the return of Messiah, the day of Israel's restoration, thus the beginning of what we now call the millennium. The day will include a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, etc. This explains Isaiah 11:6-9, in which the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb. The millennium will be the restoration of the Garden of Eden in many ways.

Furthermore, it is in that day that the Lord will break the bow and the sword, no doubt a reference to bringing peace on earth, in fulfillment of a plethora of Messianic promises. Israel will finally lie down safely.

This corresponds prophetically to Psalm 23.

Verses 19-20 -- The Lord (in the type of Hosea) promises to **betroth thee **(Israel, in the type of Gomer) **unto me **for ever (v. 19). This is the ultimate fulfillment of Israel's promises and covenants, and Israel **shalt know the **LORD (v. 20).

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