TEXT [Commentary]

  Superscription (1:1)

1 The LORD gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash[*] was king of Israel.

NOTES

1:1 The LORD gave this message. In a manner similar to that of several of the OT prophets, Hosea opened his prophecy with a declaration of the divine source of the words that will follow.

kings of Judah . . . king of Israel. Hosea indicated that his prophetic service was during the time of the kings whose reigns spanned the greater part of the eighth century BC (see Introduction). The failure to mention any of Jeroboam II’s successors may indicate something of the conflicting claims for legitimacy of rule in the turbulent closing years of the northern kingdom.

COMMENTARY [Text]

Hosea made it clear at the onset of his prophecy that what he had to say and record was not of human origin. The opening narrative and succeeding oracles that make up the prophetic collection and lead to the closing piece of prophetic wisdom were not born of mere human experience and observation but came from God. All that Hosea experienced and the messages he received were the Lord’s appointment for him and communication through him (cf. 2 Pet 1:20-21).

Hosea’s opening words remind all believers that God is a God of revelation; his person and work are made known in the Scriptures (cf. 2 Tim 3:16). There believers may find strength and direction for life in its divinely inspired words (Ps 119:105; Prov 1:1-7). Accordingly, believers should turn to the Bible and follow its precepts so as to find direction and the true joy of living (Ps 119:111).