The Message of Hosea: Love To The Loveless

The Bible Speaks Today: Old Testament

by Derek Kidner

"Go and marry a prostitute." These are the first words God spoke to his prophet Hosea. Why would he ask this of one of his special spokesmen? Because he wanted to teach Hosea, the nation of Israel, and all of us today a lesson we will not forget, a lesson that is painful yet joyous.

Hosea's sombre portrait of the human condition is our lesson in pain. All of us have played the harlot by forsaking God and his ways. The picture is not pretty but it's true. Yet Hosea's clear illustration of God's love for us brings joy. While we are yet sinners, God comes to us and loves us.

Derek Kidner imaginatively takes us through the unfolding story of Hosea and his wife Gomer, explaining the basic message, pointing out the subtleties, and encouraging readers to live lives worthy of the God who loves the loveless.

Genres: Christian, Old Testament, Reference, Biblical Studies, Religion, Nonfiction

138 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 1981

About the author

Frank Derek Kidner (1913-2008) was a British Old Testament scholar, best known for writing commentaries.

Reviews

[Annie Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Hosea is nearly shocking. But the shock doesn’t come from learning that God loves us, we know that. The shock comes from hearing of the love that God has for us in his own words—his affection that persists beyond our disobedience and heartless, unfaithful disregard of him.

The emotions that God reveals are earthy and intense. Reading Hosea, you cannot say that the Bible isn’t living.

The Old Testament prophets warn us of the dangers of forgetting God; Hosea is here to say that God remembers us no matter what.

(The Bible Speaks Today series remains a fantastic resource!)

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good commentary on Hosea by a great Old Testament theologian.

[Aaron Battey · Rating 2 out of 5]

At only 82 pages, this book is hard to fault too much. It offered some good one line takes here and there, but in an effort to survey Ecclesiastes efficiently, it was almost too brief. It was hard to make sense or meaningful news out of most of the book. But again, there were good nuggets throughout. Kidner takes the position that Quoheleth (Hebrew for the Preacher) was not Solomon. And I find that to be a caution sign up front when I read a book on Ecclesiastes. But that doesn't have a huge impact on his overall message and take on the book just the same. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always in this series, Kidner is wonderfully pastoral and clearly connected with the passage.
The best thing about this book was how consistently he helped show Hosea's teaching should lead to worship.
Often, his comments are so necessarily brief that I'm left wanting fuller explanation of his thoughts.

Used in preparation for preaching Hosea in 2019

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kidner is one of the most concise commentary writers I know. An excellent concise book on Hosea highlighting God's heart for his people to turn from their idolatrous partners back to their one true spouse....

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quality Hosea commentary, for sure. Language gets a bit intellectual at times, but it’s a very helpful companion alongside other commentary.

[Barbie N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid

[Timothy L. Barrett]

Test

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great commentary, in-depth exegesis on the, text but still very readable and pastoral. At the end he has a bird's eye view section with summaries of the text that were very helpful.

[Russell Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, no fluff, penetrating analysis, not shallow, not academic

[Robin Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good commentary! Practical, readable, thorough without bogging down in minutia.

[Caitlyn Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last two sentences of this book: “So to the reader: all these things are words for everyman, not just for Israel. Here is your safe path; or here, if you insist, your downfall.”

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 is my year of Ecclesiastes. This book was wonderful, with just the right balance of academics and accessibility. Kidner is an exquisite writer and his words often flow beautifully, like prose.

[Kelton Zacharias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinder’s vivid writing was helpful in engaging the imagination.