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Bible #28
Hosea
Book 28 of the Old Testament
14 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 721
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354 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 14, 2025
This is a different sort of Bible book...but a great one!
July 20, 2018
I don't fully understand this book yet, but I'm planning on studying it again in the future. God's Word is so complex and interesting and live-giving. I want to know more!
3/29/17
Update 7/20/18:
This time, I noticed God’s disappointment and frustration with His chosen people. Yet, He still gave them another chance to turn back to Him near the end of the book. I hope not to need second chances, but I’m glad He extends them when I mess up the first time. His compassion and saving grace are amazing.
Rating: 5 stars
3/29/17
Update 7/20/18:
This time, I noticed God’s disappointment and frustration with His chosen people. Yet, He still gave them another chance to turn back to Him near the end of the book. I hope not to need second chances, but I’m glad He extends them when I mess up the first time. His compassion and saving grace are amazing.
Rating: 5 stars
May 13, 2022
The book of Hosea is one of the oldest books in the Bible. Hosea was one of the twelve miner Prophets.
In this book he prophicies the near future of Israel and gives an interpretation of his prophacy.
This is a great book and I recommend it to all.
In this book he prophicies the near future of Israel and gives an interpretation of his prophacy.
This is a great book and I recommend it to all.
October 29, 2025
“ I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. “ (2:20)
Hosea reminds us that redemption is never too far away to receive. Even when we feel like our sin is too great, or too many- Gods grace is there to restore even the worst of us. Hosea ultimately points to Christ through the story of Hosea and Gomer his wife who was a Harlot. God will go even further for us- he didn’t even spare his own son , but gave him up for every sinner so that they might come into a right relationship with God.
“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9 NKJV
February 5, 2025
I love this portrayal of how people are so wayward from God... but how much mercy He has, and how He offers redemption!
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
“For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
“I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
“But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
“For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
“I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
“But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”
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May 1, 2022"Go take yourself a wife of fornication, and children of fornication; for the land will surely go a-whoring by departing from the Lord." My, oh, my. These are the first words that supposedly God spoke to the prophet Hosea, according to the Orthodox English version of the Old Testament "Book of Hosea." Just goes to show that God could be an original gangsta sometimes, though somehow I picture these words mouthed with an Appalachian accent, don't you?
This is one of the Book of Twelve, a section of the Old Testament dedicated to the writings and prophecies of what are called "minor" prophets. Hosea is the first. His name means "deliverance." So that makes the Appalachian accent somehow stick in my head even more. And now I have dueling banjos in there. Do you guys even know what I'm talking about? I've really got to do something about this ADHD.
All my kidding aside, this is genuinely one of the most beautiful books of the Bible. This one will register with you folks with marriage troubles out there, and is a tender parable about the power of devotion that is possible in a human marriage, as well as serving as an analogy for God's love for us.
Gomer is the name of Hosea's wife. The Appalachian jokes just won't stop coming, but I'll ignore them from now on. She evidently has an affair, or perhaps several. Hosea goes on a tirade in Chapter 2 that sounds an awful lot like that of God when angry at the Israelites for the umpteenth time for their breaking of the commandments. In this book, God is so fed up that we even get this complaint:
"...even as the Lord loves the children of Israel... they look after strange gods and love raisin cakes."
The fiends!!!! I don't know if raisin cakes are anathema to Jewish law, but this sounds an awful lot like Fred Sanford clutching his chest if he found out Lamont was dating a Muslim girl. "It's just a matter of time, Elizabeth! Our son--he'll be coming home smelling like falafel!" Do you guys even remember "Sanford and Son"? I really need to focus.
All this is clearly meant to be metaphorical. Gomer realizes that she screwed up a good thing and comes back to her husband, just as Israel will come back to God when the people have lost everything due to their unfaithfulness. And they do lose everything. "Hosea" is one of the oldest completed books of the Bible, written in the 8th Century BC, during a time when Israel was in decline due to corruption and overall failure to follow Mosaic law. The Northern Kingdom was to fall to Assyria shortly after, as foreseen here.
Of course, the reader must wonder why it was so easy for Israel to break away from God in the first place. After all, God seemed to be hanging around a lot, and was quite the micromanager in those days. You'd think it should have been pretty clear God was real and meant business. But you'll notice that, by this point in the Bible, God is governing more in abstentia. While the earliest humans had a more direct relationship with God, this changed as civilization and the population grew. Humans were created with free will as part of the grand design, but were also still quite immature. Therefore, human memory was short, and still is apparently. As a herd, we tend to forget what burned us in the past and are easily led astray. Corporations understand that very well. Makes me wonder why God didn't choose the Greeks over the Hebrews, since they seemed to have their act together a little better. Well, now that I think about it, maybe not.
Now, in real life, if Gomer ran around on her husband, the problem was likely because traffic flowed both ways. Hosea is not going to tell you that he was a neglectful or abusive husband. But whether or not he was a perfect partner and a hell of a lover, the point is that marriage is the kind of relationship that is most similar to our relationship with our Creator. It has it's ups and downs, and this was something the audience could identify with and can still to this day.
It seems Hosea will take back Gomer, and similarly, God is stuck on us too. It doesn't mean actions in a marriage don't have consequences, but the love never dies, and can even grow if we allow ourselves to learn from our mistakes, even if our partner commits the affront of loving raisin cakes.
NOTE:
The version I used for this review was not from the King James Bible, but from the Orthodox Study Bible printed by Thomas Nelson.
I have particular interest in these prophecies and will likely be leaving reviews on all the books of the "Twelve" at some point. But as usual, I will not be giving them a rating as I personally don't feel that a "score" is appropriate or necessary for religious texts of any faith.
This is one of the Book of Twelve, a section of the Old Testament dedicated to the writings and prophecies of what are called "minor" prophets. Hosea is the first. His name means "deliverance." So that makes the Appalachian accent somehow stick in my head even more. And now I have dueling banjos in there. Do you guys even know what I'm talking about? I've really got to do something about this ADHD.
All my kidding aside, this is genuinely one of the most beautiful books of the Bible. This one will register with you folks with marriage troubles out there, and is a tender parable about the power of devotion that is possible in a human marriage, as well as serving as an analogy for God's love for us.
Gomer is the name of Hosea's wife. The Appalachian jokes just won't stop coming, but I'll ignore them from now on. She evidently has an affair, or perhaps several. Hosea goes on a tirade in Chapter 2 that sounds an awful lot like that of God when angry at the Israelites for the umpteenth time for their breaking of the commandments. In this book, God is so fed up that we even get this complaint:
"...even as the Lord loves the children of Israel... they look after strange gods and love raisin cakes."
The fiends!!!! I don't know if raisin cakes are anathema to Jewish law, but this sounds an awful lot like Fred Sanford clutching his chest if he found out Lamont was dating a Muslim girl. "It's just a matter of time, Elizabeth! Our son--he'll be coming home smelling like falafel!" Do you guys even remember "Sanford and Son"? I really need to focus.
All this is clearly meant to be metaphorical. Gomer realizes that she screwed up a good thing and comes back to her husband, just as Israel will come back to God when the people have lost everything due to their unfaithfulness. And they do lose everything. "Hosea" is one of the oldest completed books of the Bible, written in the 8th Century BC, during a time when Israel was in decline due to corruption and overall failure to follow Mosaic law. The Northern Kingdom was to fall to Assyria shortly after, as foreseen here.
Of course, the reader must wonder why it was so easy for Israel to break away from God in the first place. After all, God seemed to be hanging around a lot, and was quite the micromanager in those days. You'd think it should have been pretty clear God was real and meant business. But you'll notice that, by this point in the Bible, God is governing more in abstentia. While the earliest humans had a more direct relationship with God, this changed as civilization and the population grew. Humans were created with free will as part of the grand design, but were also still quite immature. Therefore, human memory was short, and still is apparently. As a herd, we tend to forget what burned us in the past and are easily led astray. Corporations understand that very well. Makes me wonder why God didn't choose the Greeks over the Hebrews, since they seemed to have their act together a little better. Well, now that I think about it, maybe not.
Now, in real life, if Gomer ran around on her husband, the problem was likely because traffic flowed both ways. Hosea is not going to tell you that he was a neglectful or abusive husband. But whether or not he was a perfect partner and a hell of a lover, the point is that marriage is the kind of relationship that is most similar to our relationship with our Creator. It has it's ups and downs, and this was something the audience could identify with and can still to this day.
It seems Hosea will take back Gomer, and similarly, God is stuck on us too. It doesn't mean actions in a marriage don't have consequences, but the love never dies, and can even grow if we allow ourselves to learn from our mistakes, even if our partner commits the affront of loving raisin cakes.
NOTE:
The version I used for this review was not from the King James Bible, but from the Orthodox Study Bible printed by Thomas Nelson.
I have particular interest in these prophecies and will likely be leaving reviews on all the books of the "Twelve" at some point. But as usual, I will not be giving them a rating as I personally don't feel that a "score" is appropriate or necessary for religious texts of any faith.
December 30, 2017
Do I even have to explain why I rated this book 5 stars??? It's the bible, even the boring books in the bible I would rate 5 stars because it is the very word of God!! This definatly was one of the more "boring" books, but then again it wasn't, because the messgae that God was trying to portray through
Hosea was a very meaningful and powerful one.
Hosea was a very meaningful and powerful one.
December 30, 2017
Hosea is a prophet who has a naughty prostitute for a wife. There are similarities between Hosea's wife leaving him to sleep with other men, and Israel leaving the Lord to worship other false gods.
In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
October 17, 2023
I read this as apart of my churches catholic faith formation program on the prophets of the Bible.
I really liked the book of Hosea, I have always wanted to study the Bible more and learn about the prophets and the history in the Old Testament and reading Hosea and having a workbook to study and figure out the message in the book was helpful.
I really liked the book of Hosea, I have always wanted to study the Bible more and learn about the prophets and the history in the Old Testament and reading Hosea and having a workbook to study and figure out the message in the book was helpful.
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June 22, 2019 The book begins with a crime to bring home the reality of what the idolatrous Jewish people have been committing in the face of God. The motif of presenting God's relationship to his people as a marriage, and idolatry as infidelity is found throughout the Bible. In this case the prophet Hosea's wife is literally unfaithful to him, but the tragedy is then used to symbolize the overall spiritual situation in Israel.
A large part of the blame falls on the priesthood who are supposed to uphold morality yet in this case they contributed to its collapse, bringing upon themselves the wrath of God. “O priests!...my people perish for want of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge...since you have ignored the law of your God...the priests shall fare no better than the people...because they have abandoned the Lord to practice harlotry” perhaps in the metaphorical and the literal sense.
There is an interesting metaphor aimed at the leadership of what was now a collapsing nation: “[the aristocracy] are all kindled to wrath like a blazing oven, whose fire the baker desists from stirring once the dough is kneaded until it has risen,” an out of control oven fire. The fire consumes the kings themselves in intrigues and usurpations; the fire also spreads and consumes the nation through general incompetence in governing.
Ingratitude has made the crime of abandoning God worse. “Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; the more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up.” Israel was absolutely prosperous yet this seemed to have only contributed to its infidelity, and this would hardly be the only time a bit of peace and prosperity turned a nation into unbelievers.
You once again, also see a condemnation of hostility to the prophet. “The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad.” Apparently this was the people’s reaction to the prophet. “Because your iniquity is great, great, too, is your hostility.” Evil flocks to the good to devour it. It's inevitable, and shouldn't surprise anyone.
In spite of frequent condemnation and assured punishment, the book nonetheless strongly emphasizes the forgiveness and patience of God. Who “loves the people of Israel through they turn to other gods”
“My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger”
God does not punish to annihilate his people, but to have them turn away from their sins.
A large part of the blame falls on the priesthood who are supposed to uphold morality yet in this case they contributed to its collapse, bringing upon themselves the wrath of God. “O priests!...my people perish for want of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge...since you have ignored the law of your God...the priests shall fare no better than the people...because they have abandoned the Lord to practice harlotry” perhaps in the metaphorical and the literal sense.
There is an interesting metaphor aimed at the leadership of what was now a collapsing nation: “[the aristocracy] are all kindled to wrath like a blazing oven, whose fire the baker desists from stirring once the dough is kneaded until it has risen,” an out of control oven fire. The fire consumes the kings themselves in intrigues and usurpations; the fire also spreads and consumes the nation through general incompetence in governing.
Ingratitude has made the crime of abandoning God worse. “Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; the more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up.” Israel was absolutely prosperous yet this seemed to have only contributed to its infidelity, and this would hardly be the only time a bit of peace and prosperity turned a nation into unbelievers.
You once again, also see a condemnation of hostility to the prophet. “The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad.” Apparently this was the people’s reaction to the prophet. “Because your iniquity is great, great, too, is your hostility.” Evil flocks to the good to devour it. It's inevitable, and shouldn't surprise anyone.
In spite of frequent condemnation and assured punishment, the book nonetheless strongly emphasizes the forgiveness and patience of God. Who “loves the people of Israel through they turn to other gods”
“My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger”
God does not punish to annihilate his people, but to have them turn away from their sins.
September 17, 2020
Sidenote: The reason for such vague and short and "eh" words on each of these books, is because I wasn't challenging the study of the Bible when I read these. I was challenging myself to read the whole Bible in a year because I knew it would be discipline to keep at it daily. I do, however, plan to pick up a book and study what it is saying. Those will be longer reads and more notes.
So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.
So here is my review of Hosea.
This is a short read but it doesn't mean it wasn't powerful and life altering.
So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.
So here is my review of Hosea.
This is a short read but it doesn't mean it wasn't powerful and life altering.
March 8, 2022
Been studying this particular book since the beginning of the year. You can’t just read the Bible, you have to READ the Bible. A very good book and understanding how easy it is for people to have false idols or receiving what they want and forgetting about the person who helped them. God will ensure to place wrath or take back all that was given. God doesn’t want us to be materialistic but he wants us to himself but also for us to be good stewards and walk life accordingly to His will and not being wayward or double minded.
September 18, 2021
Hosea is the first book in the twelve minor prophets so it serves as an introduction. He warns the disobedient and idolatrous and promises creation-wide restoration by God's grace. This book along with the other minor prophets is one that can be studied over and over and each time a new piece of understanding comes to light.
July 6, 2019
Comparing my relationship with God to a marriage relationship is thought-provoking. Am I as faithful to God as I'd expect a wife to be to her husband? Do I anticipate spending time with God? Do I do all the talking, or do I listen for what He has to tell me? Do I put effort into our relationship?
July 16, 2025
Hosea shows God's unconditional love for us and His desire for a relationship with us.
September 28, 2025
This is honestly so sad but so good at the same time. Poor Hosea, he went through so much pain and heartache but it is such a great book!
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March 8, 2024im about to speed run my reading goal with these minor prophets
May 10, 2025
Wow! Even if you don't want to read the Bible, this book is interesting.
Set in the waning years of the kingdom of Israel, just before its deportation to Assyria, the prophet Hosea is told by God to marry a prostitute! As an author, I love that kind of hook! Hosea obeys and has some children by his wife, Gomer. Each one has a symbolic name. Altogether, his marriage to a whore, his children, and their names are a final message and warning to Israel, before death and captivity.
The message? Israel, married to God since Mount Sinai, has been like a prostitute to Him. The children's names? Judgment or Vengeance--for God will judge Israel. 'No mercy', for He will not show mercy to them. 'Not My People', for Israel will not be His people anymore.
Then, following this stern message, God adds:
Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can’t be measured nor numbered; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ 11 The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint themselves one head, and will go up from the land; for great will be the day of Jezreel. ('God Will Sow' this is a valley in Israel where the city of Megido is--or the valley of Armageddon).
And that's just the first chapter of 14!
Highly recommended. Read it now, in any translation. It's a one-sitting read.
P.S. Hosea's marriage to Gomer turns out well.
Set in the waning years of the kingdom of Israel, just before its deportation to Assyria, the prophet Hosea is told by God to marry a prostitute! As an author, I love that kind of hook! Hosea obeys and has some children by his wife, Gomer. Each one has a symbolic name. Altogether, his marriage to a whore, his children, and their names are a final message and warning to Israel, before death and captivity.
The message? Israel, married to God since Mount Sinai, has been like a prostitute to Him. The children's names? Judgment or Vengeance--for God will judge Israel. 'No mercy', for He will not show mercy to them. 'Not My People', for Israel will not be His people anymore.
Then, following this stern message, God adds:
Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can’t be measured nor numbered; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ 11 The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint themselves one head, and will go up from the land; for great will be the day of Jezreel. ('God Will Sow' this is a valley in Israel where the city of Megido is--or the valley of Armageddon).
And that's just the first chapter of 14!
Highly recommended. Read it now, in any translation. It's a one-sitting read.
P.S. Hosea's marriage to Gomer turns out well.
December 1, 2015
HOSEA CHAPTER 14:
O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS!
O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
BLESS THE NAME OF JESUS!
December 17, 2021
"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land."
Hosea 6:3
It always just awes me how even after everything God still loves Israel and cares for them and wants His people to come back to Him. His love is just amazing. And it's amazing to think that He loves each and every one of us the same way He loves Israel. His love doesn't change depending on the person. He doesn't love anyone any less because of a mistake they made. His love never changes. He loves me with the same unconditional love that is talked about in the Bible. He loves you with that same astounding, unmatchable, unending love. What a wonderful God He is!
"For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6
Hosea 6:3
It always just awes me how even after everything God still loves Israel and cares for them and wants His people to come back to Him. His love is just amazing. And it's amazing to think that He loves each and every one of us the same way He loves Israel. His love doesn't change depending on the person. He doesn't love anyone any less because of a mistake they made. His love never changes. He loves me with the same unconditional love that is talked about in the Bible. He loves you with that same astounding, unmatchable, unending love. What a wonderful God He is!
"For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6
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January 3, 2018Re-read April 27, 2015
September 4, 2018
This is one of the more difficult books to understand. Will probably have to reread it a few times in the future to really get this.
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* -:}|{}|{: = THE PERFECT VOICE = 4 THE BIBLE = DAVID SUCHET = ITS NO SUPRISE IN PSLAM 47 - THE LORD HIMSELF IN FLESH = DANCED IN A MYRIAD OF REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT - THAT CLEARLY - STATES - IN THE UNDOUBTABLE CLARITY ONLY THE LOOORDDSSS PHENIMINAL - ECXSTATIC INFNITE DANCE COULD - DESCRIBE IN AN INEPHABLE - WAY - WITH THE DEAPEST OF KNOWINGS - HIS GREATEST OF AL PRECEPTS ----> THO SHALT BE SMIGHTED - IF THO LISTENS 2 ANY OTHER AUDIO-VERSION OF THE BIBLE ( OTHER THEN DAVID SUCHET ) <--- - & THO SHALT FIND ONES SELF CONDEMMED 2 ETERNAL DAMNATION - & ONES SALVATION SHALL BE FOUND IN THE - GRACE FOUND IN THE NARRATION ONES LIFE IN ITS INTIRITY READ IN 0.25 SPEED BY DAVID SUCHET= }|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VWrl... {- *
* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *
* -} Gestalt Psychology Simplified with Examples and Principles {- *
* -:}|{}|{: = MY SYNTHESISED ( ^ GESTALT ^ ) OF THE * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * ( WAY THE AUTHOR FRAMES = HIS WRITING PERSPECTIVES ) & ( POINTERS & IMPLICATIONS = the conclusion that can be drawn IMPLICITYLY from something although it is not EXPLICITLY stated ) = :}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{: = ? = }|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
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~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~
Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”
Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind
A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--- :}|{:-:}|{:- * FOLLOW 4 FOLLOW * -:}|{:-:}|{: ---{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--------:}|{:-:}|{:- * LINKS * -:}|{:-:}|{:----------{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
***********************************************
~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -} https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... {- *
~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{:- ^ AUDIOBOOK ^ -:}|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
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* -:}|{}|{:- * SUMMARY * -:}|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{:- * RATING * -:}|{:- * /10 * -:}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{}|{: =EXPERIENCES=&=DISCERNMENTS= :}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{: = THE PERFECT VOICE = 4 THE BIBLE = DAVID SUCHET = ITS NO SUPRISE IN PSLAM 47 - THE LORD HIMSELF IN FLESH = DANCED IN A MYRIAD OF REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT - THAT CLEARLY - STATES - IN THE UNDOUBTABLE CLARITY ONLY THE LOOORDDSSS PHENIMINAL - ECXSTATIC INFNITE DANCE COULD - DESCRIBE IN AN INEPHABLE - WAY - WITH THE DEAPEST OF KNOWINGS - HIS GREATEST OF AL PRECEPTS ----> THO SHALT BE SMIGHTED - IF THO LISTENS 2 ANY OTHER AUDIO-VERSION OF THE BIBLE ( OTHER THEN DAVID SUCHET ) <--- - & THO SHALT FIND ONES SELF CONDEMMED 2 ETERNAL DAMNATION - & ONES SALVATION SHALL BE FOUND IN THE - GRACE FOUND IN THE NARRATION ONES LIFE IN ITS INTIRITY READ IN 0.25 SPEED BY DAVID SUCHET= }|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VWrl... {- *
* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *
* -} Gestalt Psychology Simplified with Examples and Principles {- *
* -:}|{}|{: = MY SYNTHESISED ( ^ GESTALT ^ ) OF THE * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * ( WAY THE AUTHOR FRAMES = HIS WRITING PERSPECTIVES ) & ( POINTERS & IMPLICATIONS = the conclusion that can be drawn IMPLICITYLY from something although it is not EXPLICITLY stated ) = :}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{: = ? = }|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~
Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”
Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind
A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
September 17, 2025
My journey of reading through the entire Old Testament continues… Hosea (14 chapters)
Summary:
The first few chapters are about Hosea & Gomer.
God calls Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Gomer is unfaithful to Hosea but Hosea continues to pursue her and win her over with his love. This is reflection of what the Lord does with his people.
(If you haven’t read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, stop what you are doing and read it right away. It is a romance allegory about Hosea & Gomer.)
Almost all the rest of Hosea is about idols- his people’s “prostitution”. Going about worshipping other things and selling their souls for pleasure, riches or anything else.
Here are a few verses that stuck out to me in Hosea, and my thoughts:
———
“My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me...
Hosea 4:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.4.6.NLT
This just breaks my heart.
———-
“I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.6.6.NLT
I feel like this is saying, “Love me and do the right thing that you know you need to do. Stop sinning and saying, “I’ll just ask God to forgive me afterwards.”
———
“They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind...
Hosea 8:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.8.7.NLT
This is saying (to me) that we will do something we know is wrong but tell ourselves “it’s just a small thing. No big deal.” And that’s the wind we plant. But that “small sin” becomes something way bigger and way more destructive than we ever imagined.
————-
“But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.”
Hosea 11:2-3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.11.2-...
——-
“For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west. Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt. Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria. And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.”
Hosea 11:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.11.11...
I truly believe this day is coming soon and is upon us when he will call all of us back to himself.
Summary:
The first few chapters are about Hosea & Gomer.
God calls Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Gomer is unfaithful to Hosea but Hosea continues to pursue her and win her over with his love. This is reflection of what the Lord does with his people.
(If you haven’t read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, stop what you are doing and read it right away. It is a romance allegory about Hosea & Gomer.)
Almost all the rest of Hosea is about idols- his people’s “prostitution”. Going about worshipping other things and selling their souls for pleasure, riches or anything else.
Here are a few verses that stuck out to me in Hosea, and my thoughts:
———
“My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me...
Hosea 4:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.4.6.NLT
This just breaks my heart.
———-
“I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.6.6.NLT
I feel like this is saying, “Love me and do the right thing that you know you need to do. Stop sinning and saying, “I’ll just ask God to forgive me afterwards.”
———
“They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind...
Hosea 8:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.8.7.NLT
This is saying (to me) that we will do something we know is wrong but tell ourselves “it’s just a small thing. No big deal.” And that’s the wind we plant. But that “small sin” becomes something way bigger and way more destructive than we ever imagined.
————-
“But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.”
Hosea 11:2-3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.11.2-...
——-
“For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west. Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt. Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria. And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.”
Hosea 11:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.11.11...
I truly believe this day is coming soon and is upon us when he will call all of us back to himself.
July 24, 2025
The story of Hosea describes the drama between Yahweh and his bride Israel. Yahweh has wedded with his bride who has no commitment to his kind and caring groom while going after another men for her lustful desires to love another men but his lovely husband because he was too kind, soft and perfect for her and she doesn’t respect these values as she doesn’t want a good happy life forever that demands her sacrifice, commitment and loyalty. Instead she wants to be happy and joyful at a brief and temporary moment instead of having an eternal happy life with her husband, because she can’t stay loyal, faithful and honest with her husband who wants her to be loyal, respectful and faithful to their marriage that demands her sacrifice and law-abiding commitment to save their marriage and also the family with the children who need both of their parantes to teach them how to become faithful, lawful, loyal and respectful to family. The interesting part is that God wanted Hosea to sacrifice his own romantic life by marrying with a woman whom he wouldn’t have married if it wasn’t for God’s command. Just like the other prophets who had warned Israelites to come back to Yahweh, he promised Israelites that God would forgive them and let their land become heavenly once again, if only they repent for their sins and come back to the God with their pure heart and soul this time. These promises warmth my cold heart and soul as it makes me believe that God would forgive anyone, I mean anyone with any kinda sin. You just shall do it with the depth of your heart and souls and keep loving God and praying to him every single day. We should stay with God as God won’t ever leave me. His Bless Y’all… .
December 28, 2019
Hosea is one of those books that makes me glad I wasn't born an Old Testament prophet.
Near the beginning of the text, Hosea is ordered to take a wife, knowing she will be unfaithful to him. And we're told this is supposed to be an object lesson symbolizing Israel's relationship with God.
I don't know about you, but that sounds depressing. Oh, I don't doubt there were moments of joy in the marriage, but going into it knowing you're going to be made to feel some of the worst emotions someone can feel (jealously, anger, betrayal) doesn't seem like the most promising foundation for a successful union.
Like I said . . . I'm glad I wasn't born an Old Testament prophet.
I'm giving this five stars because it's an easy enough read. Although containing many of the same themes and phraseology that the other Old Testament prophetic books have, it's one of the more readable ones thanks to its length and relative lack of tedious lists and measurements.
(I won't say it's a happy book, though -- it's never exactly pleasant reading about infants being dashed against the rocks or pregnant women being ripped open, even if it seems to be an image used primarily to drive home the terror of God's judgment against the Israelites' sins)
Near the beginning of the text, Hosea is ordered to take a wife, knowing she will be unfaithful to him. And we're told this is supposed to be an object lesson symbolizing Israel's relationship with God.
I don't know about you, but that sounds depressing. Oh, I don't doubt there were moments of joy in the marriage, but going into it knowing you're going to be made to feel some of the worst emotions someone can feel (jealously, anger, betrayal) doesn't seem like the most promising foundation for a successful union.
Like I said . . . I'm glad I wasn't born an Old Testament prophet.
I'm giving this five stars because it's an easy enough read. Although containing many of the same themes and phraseology that the other Old Testament prophetic books have, it's one of the more readable ones thanks to its length and relative lack of tedious lists and measurements.
(I won't say it's a happy book, though -- it's never exactly pleasant reading about infants being dashed against the rocks or pregnant women being ripped open, even if it seems to be an image used primarily to drive home the terror of God's judgment against the Israelites' sins)
November 9, 2021
The book of Hosea is the twenty-eighth book in the Bible, and it is found in the Old Testament. It is a book of prophecy, written by the book’s namesake, the prophet Hosea. Due to clues in the narrative, it is safe to assume that Hosea lived in the time that the prophets Isaiah and Micah lived and prophesied.
Hosea was told by God to marry a harlot as a message to Israel about her unfaithfulness to God. God also named Hosea’s children to communicate his displeasure and the forthcoming judgement on unfaithful Israel. The cycle of judgement, forgiveness, and redemption is the key feature of this book.
This book has been one of my favorite minor prophet books for years. The intense story of an unfaithful wife in the real life of Hosea helps to put Israel’s unfaithfulness into perspective. The condemnation of the sins of Israel showcased through Gomer’s betrayals and the prophecies of judgement that came to Israel, followed by God’s commands for Hosea to bring his unfaithful wife back home illustrating God’s redemption of his unfaithful people is a powerful message to God’s children that though we are sinners, He makes a way for redemption.
Hosea was told by God to marry a harlot as a message to Israel about her unfaithfulness to God. God also named Hosea’s children to communicate his displeasure and the forthcoming judgement on unfaithful Israel. The cycle of judgement, forgiveness, and redemption is the key feature of this book.
This book has been one of my favorite minor prophet books for years. The intense story of an unfaithful wife in the real life of Hosea helps to put Israel’s unfaithfulness into perspective. The condemnation of the sins of Israel showcased through Gomer’s betrayals and the prophecies of judgement that came to Israel, followed by God’s commands for Hosea to bring his unfaithful wife back home illustrating God’s redemption of his unfaithful people is a powerful message to God’s children that though we are sinners, He makes a way for redemption.
May 23, 2022
Gomer aka angel in redeeming love cheats on Hosea (a Jesus type)….”But, I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.”Hos.2:14
I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of Hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did when she was young when I freed her from captivity in Egypt.
I love how the movie displays this by redeeming her fertility and joy in the wide open spaces. Simply beautiful. Restore the years the locust have eaten.
When the day comes, you will call me husband instead of Master. Freedom. She freely returned….true relationship and love are found in freedom.
Hos 4:4 my people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. When we know love, we are free to love.
But the Lord heals. In him, Love abounds. Hos.14:4
I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of Hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did when she was young when I freed her from captivity in Egypt.
I love how the movie displays this by redeeming her fertility and joy in the wide open spaces. Simply beautiful. Restore the years the locust have eaten.
When the day comes, you will call me husband instead of Master. Freedom. She freely returned….true relationship and love are found in freedom.
Hos 4:4 my people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. When we know love, we are free to love.
But the Lord heals. In him, Love abounds. Hos.14:4
March 4, 2020
Clearly I am missing something in reading the Bible (Good News Bible , Australian Edition)
The Book of Hosea is yet another rendition of a God who threatens and oftentimes carries out his threats of violence and catastrophic events upon his “ beloved Israelites” should they choose not to toe the line.
Usually as a conclusion God suggests he loves the Israelites so much he will give them eternal happiness if they will just do as he asks
It all seems to be another version of the battered wife syndrome to me .
This God didn’t have much love for all of his creations
All but the Israelites are merely cannon fodder , and the sheep and bulls pay a high price so that the Israelites can show their love for God
The Book of Hosea is yet another rendition of a God who threatens and oftentimes carries out his threats of violence and catastrophic events upon his “ beloved Israelites” should they choose not to toe the line.
Usually as a conclusion God suggests he loves the Israelites so much he will give them eternal happiness if they will just do as he asks
It all seems to be another version of the battered wife syndrome to me .
This God didn’t have much love for all of his creations
All but the Israelites are merely cannon fodder , and the sheep and bulls pay a high price so that the Israelites can show their love for God
July 28, 2019
Hosea is a bit difficult to review. Large parts of it are not told through a narrative it's just prophecy which is hard to get into and hard to read for long periods of time. But the narrative itself is fascinating and it also gives light into the hard lives of the prophets had. Hosea was told by God to marry a prostitute knowing that she would leave him and that he named his children this really sad meaning names about the judgments of Israel. But the book also spawned one of my favorite romance novels redeeming Love by Francine Rivers where she takes the idea of Hosea and gives it new life in the American West it's an intense book but it's really good.
(ebook with kindle dictation)
(ebook with kindle dictation)
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