The Gospel of Hosea, Ch. 9: Eviction Notice!

The Gospel of Hosea, Ch. 9: Eviction Notice!

“O people of Israel, do not rejoice, neither make merry as other nations do. For you have gone a-whoring in unfaithfulness to your God. Like prostitutes, you have hired for yourselves other lovers, worshipping other gods on every threshing floor.” (Hosea 9:1-2).

Threshing Floor. The people of Israel were stuck in their foolishness, stubborn in their thinking that it was Baal their fertility-god that gave them favorable weather and a good harvest. Hosea pointed to the threshing floor in particular as a graphic illustration of how they have proven adulterous in their relations with God… The farmer’s threshing floor was a vital part of their grain harvesting process. It was generally a flat area on a hilltop where harvesters would beat the wheat from the chaff as they prepared to sell the grain or use it for their own bread-making. Men would tend to remain on the threshing floor through the night in order to protect their valuable grain from thieves, and so the local prostitutes would often visit these men on the threshing floor. The threshing floors, then, would often evolve into a pagan site for sex-worship to Baal, especially because Baal priests preferred those “high places” for their sex and incense rituals. Hosea is warning the Israelites that it doesn’t make sense to be happy these days, as if Baal were the one who could give you a good harvest. Breaking God’s covenant through sexual worship will bring you the very opposite of the blessings you are looking for, people!

Eviction Notice. “Israel will not remain in the land of Yahweh. They will be returned soon to Egypt and have to eat the unclean foods in Assyria.” (Hosea 9:3). Hosea continues to give the people of Israel fair warning… They will return to the slavery they experienced in Egypt. They will be exiled, deported to Assyria, and unable to eat kosher food, or offer sacrifices to Yahweh, or celebrate the sacred festivals, or enjoy communal holy feasts that were so important to the chosen people of the covenant. Hosea is telling the people that the Promised Land has been taken away from them because of their unfaithfulness. Israel has been kicked out of the special land that Yahweh had prepared for them, and for them alone. Pack your bags, Hosea is saying, it’s time to move. You are deep in spiritual debt and can’t even pay the rent. Good-bye.

Hosea is Distraught. “Israel claims that the prophet is a fool, that the man of the Spirit is crazy and deranged, driven mad by the constant harassment and the abundance of hostility. This prophet of my God was intended to be a watchman for Israel and for the surrounding nations. Yet everywhere he goes, the people set traps for him. He is even considered an enemy in the house of his God.” (Hosea 9:7-8). Translators all say that these two verses are the most difficult verses to translate in the book of Hosea. But it seems to make sense that Hosea is doing the talking, and is referring to his experience as a prophet in Israel as well as the experiences of other prophets in the land. The role of watchman was significant in the Promised Land…

• The Lookout. The Hebrew word for watchman was “mishmereth,” which means one who looks out in order to protect, to guard, to keep safe. The good watchman needed to have particular abilities: the mental discipline to be constantly alert, attentive and focused; to be fearless, calm and composed; to be shrewd and not easily fooled; to have acute hearing and eyesight; to be extremely observant and aware of surroundings; to be ready for anything, expectant, poised to act when called upon; to be someone who is able to wait patiently; to be able to discern the good from the bad, the welcome from the welcome.
• The Prophet-Watchman. The literal watchman became a symbol that God used to describe the duties of His prophets. These men and women were appointed by Him to be spiritual watchmen, watching over the souls of His people like a watchman would watch over a city. The prophets, like any good watchmen, had to be vigilant in their observation of spiritual matters regarding His people, calling on them to obey God, to live faithfully before Him, to warn them if they were in danger of the Lord’s judgment due to their sinful behavior. God expected the prophets to be receptive at all times to hear the words of the Lord, to listen carefully to what He is telling them, and then to speak His words to the people. Sometimes the prophet-watchman would shout out the good news of the Lord’s mercy and comfort and hope. But when called upon, the prophets would sound the alarm of spiritual danger. The voice of the prophet was to be like the blare of the trumpet from the watchtower, sounding the alarm that would alert the people that they were in spiritual danger, that the Lord’s judgment is approaching if things don’t change. God spoke often about the importance of prophet-watchman like Isaiah (21:6-9; 52:8; 62:6-7); Jeremiah (6:17-20; 31:3-6); Ezekiel (3:17-19; 33:7); Micah (7:1-4); Habakkuk (2:1); and when Yahweh instructs the prophet Joel to perform a watchman’s duties, “Blow the shofar in Zion, sound the alarm on my mountain of holiness! Shake the people awake, for the day of Yahweh is coming!” (2:1). Prophets were Yahweh’s appointed watchmen for the spiritual welfare of His chosen people.

Hideously Sinful Like Gibeah. “Israel has corrupted themselves and sunk so deeply into depravity – just as you did at Gibeah. God will not overlook the guilt of your actions; He will punish you for your sins.” (Hosea 9:9).