The sacred scriptures teach us that the prophet Hosea preached in the Kingdom of Israel before its destruction by the Assyrian empire. While the Kingdom of Judah remained relatively stable, faithful to the dynasty established by King David, violent changes took place in the Kingdom of Israel due to the assassination of several of its kings.
As for his teachings, they were so important, that even the prophet deeply affected the Christian thought, for Hosea the theme of love was something fundamental, the pact between God and Israel was a pact of spiritual love, and therefore for Hosea the relationship between God and Israel was a relationship between husband and wife.
For Christians the equivalent in the new covenant announced in the Sermon on the Mount by our Lord Jesus, is the relationship between Christ and the Church.
In an original way Hosea took up a requirement of the Law of Moses: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts" Deuteronomy 6:5-6.
But Hosea when he spoke of the love he was specific, the love that must be surrendered to the Lord is that love tinged with the fear of God, that is, the love united with firmness, perseverance, and devotion.
The Lord despises the fleeting love, Hosea warned us, the love that depends on the circumstances and conveniences of the moment:
"What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth—
then my judgments go forth like the sun" Hosea 6:4-5.
The Lord in his wisdom, the prophet continued, despises masks and appearances because the Lord judges the intentions of hearts:
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings" Hosea 6:6.
For Hosea, Israel was that beloved wife, who had to respond with fidelity, and not with masks:
"I will betroth you to me forever;
I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
in love and compassion" Hosea 2:19.
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