Hosea 3

Restoration of Gomer

Hosea 3:1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.

The LORD commands Hosea to go love a woman beloved of her friend (or husband), who is still an adulteress, unfaithful to her husband. This do even as an example of the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who commit spiritual adultery with other gods, and love the raisin cakes used in the sacrificial feasts of the pagans. Hosea was to be a natural example, in loving an unfaithful woman of what Israel was doing spiritually to the LORD who loved them. They had broken their covenant promise to not worship other gods. God still loved his people and He wanted Hosea to continue to love his wife, in spite of her infidelity. The LORD is not showing us that we should divorce an unfaithful partner. What did Jesus say?

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Divorce and remarriage is considered adultery in God's eyes. God is showing in Hosea, that adultery is not even grounds for divorce. The law of Moses was much more strict concerning sins.

Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Jesus brought grace; for when a woman who was caught in adultery was brought to him to be stoned, he reminded the accusers of their own sins. He said to the woman "go and sin no more". Those who are under grace are to be forgiving of one another's sins.

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Hosea 3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
Hosea 3:3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

He had to buy her time in order for her to stay with him for several days as a wife. When a marriage gets to the point that one must buy affection, then the hearts need to repent. People who marry for money are covetous and idolaters. An attractive woman may demand a certain lifestyle in order to give herself to her husband; she would be playing the harlot in her marriage. Another may withhold herself as a way to get power or out of anger from some past experience; these are wrong attitudes of behavior. Paul explains this to us in 1 Corinthians.

1 Cor 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Cor 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Cor 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Restoration of Israel

Hosea 3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Israel would be dispersed as a nation into other nations and places. They would lose their national identity as a nation, having no King or prince. There would be no temple or place of sacrifice for their sins. They would be without ephod, a priestly garment and without teraphim which are idols. They would lose their identity as a people and yet God still knew where they were and he still loved his covenant people. Their behavior would result in their calamity.

Hosea 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Afterwards, would be after Israel was again declared to be a nation in 1948. This returning is going on now and will be fulfilled when Jesus returns again to reign on earth for a thousand years; this will be the Millennium.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Those of the Jews who seek the LORD their God, and David their king; shall come to their Messiah Jesus, and they shall be saved.

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.