3:1 This short chapter pictures the nation’s exile and return. Israel would experience a time of purification in a foreign land, but God would still love the people and would be willing to accept them back. God commanded Hosea to show the same forgiving spirit to Gomer. Although Hosea had good reason to divorce Gomer, he was told to buy her back and love her.
3:1 God asked Hosea to do something almost unthinkable—to buy back his adulterous, unrepentant wife and to continue to love her! When those who knew about Gomer’s adultery heard Hosea say that God loved idolatrous Israel as much as Hosea loved Gomer, they must have been amazed. The people had heard God’s words many times, but they felt the impact of those words when they saw them acted out in Hosea’s merciful love for his wife.
3:2 Apparently Gomer was on her own for a while. Needing to support herself, she must have either sold herself into slavery or become the mistress of another man. In either case, Hosea had to pay to get her back—although the required amount was pitifully small. Gomer was no longer worth much to anyone except Hosea, but he loved her just as God loved Israel. No matter how low we sink, God is willing to buy us back—to redeem us—and to lift us up again.
3:4 God would separate the Israelites from their treasured idolatrous practices. The sacrifice, image, ephod, and teraphim mentioned were used for idol worship. The teraphim were household gods, which were strictly forbidden for God’s people.
3:4, 5 The northern kingdom had rebelled against David’s dynasty and had taken Jeroboam as their king (1 Kings 12–13). Their rebellion was both political and religious. At that time, they reverted back to the worship of gold idols. “David their king” refers to the time of Messiah’s rule when all people will bow before him in humility and submission. Those who won’t accept Christ’s blessings now will face his power and judgment later. How much better it is to love and follow Christ now than face his angry judgment later.