The Message of Hosea

by Derek Kidner

Book Overview

"Go and marry a prostitute." These are the first words God spoke to his prophet Hosea. Why would he ask this of one of his special spokesman? Because he wanted to teach Hosea, the nation of Israel and all of us today a lesson we will not forget, a lesson that is painful yet joyous. Hosea's somber portrait of the human condition is our lesson in pain. All of us have played the harlot by forsaking God and his ways. The picture is not pretty but it's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877842906
• ISBN13: 9780877842903
• Release Date: August 1984
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Length: 142 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Exegetical & Practical Points Throughout

This book is perhaps a cut above some of the other BST series commentaries that I have reviewed in that Kidner deals with germane language issues succinctly. He also gives very practical tips for preaching. For example in Hosea 1 he starts out by drawing the practical analogy that we are often hurt the most by those we love. He connects this directly to the text. He also gets to crucial Hebrew textual points without adding a lot of technical detail (a delight for a preaching pastor who is not a Hebrew 'geek'). For example, he gives the very potent Jerusalem Bible (JB) translation of Hosea 1:2 by saying the "JB gives it to us with almost the merciless brevity of the original: 'Go, marry a whore, and get children with a whore, for the country itself has become nothing but a whore by abandoning Yahweh.'" He footnotes a crucial grammatical point about the Hebrew text reinforcing the structure to make the point stronger. Then he goes on to say, 'this is strong talk. And as if throwing the word 'whore' at us three times in one sentence were not enough, the Hebrew has the root not a mere three times, but four! (If you read the Hebrew text, that root appears in four of five words as a string that is much stronger than the English can portray). It's a shock factor times two! After this he challenges authors like (he doesn't mention her specifically) Achtemeier who claim Gomer (Hosea's harlot wife) probably was a cult prostitute, not a regular prostitute. Kidner claims this is not so because the Hebrew languages has a different word for cult prostitute and that Hosea did not use that word. Clearly Achtemeier does not agree. Although the lexicons seem to favor Kidner over Achtemeier, my Hebrew tutor informed me that Kidner is probably wrong on this point simply because of the customs in play in their day. So it may be helpful (as is the case in other BST volumes I have checked) to compare all exegetical points in this series with a more seasoned or accurate series like the ICC or NICOT series of commentaries. Kidner gives five pages of exegetical data and application seed ideas on Hosea 1:2-9. Since this passage is the foundation of the whole book, his treatment of it is significant. I think anyone developing sermons on Hosea or teaching a small group bible study or SS class on Hosea would enjoy this book. He doesn't waste time on minutia, deals with crucial issues, and helps to lift the language barrier between English and Hebrew for the English only reader. The real value in the BST series, and this volume delivers much in my view, is in their homiletical ideas. These commentaries are loaded with great ideas for preaching the word. Pls just double check the exegesis before running too far with his Hebrew work, because it may fly in the face of other evangelical scholars out there. In that light, I highly recommend this commentary.

Lovingkindness

Here you will find that mercy without response is self-defeating and forgiveness without a healed relationship is empty. You will read that the time came when the only thing left for G-d to do with Israel was to divorce her. We read the heart of Hosea is reconciliation, and though G-d's jealousy is a "fiery concern for what is precious to Him," Kidner's guide makes sure we understand His attributes are perfect and lovingkindness rules over them all.

Excellent Study Guide for Hosea

This prophet of love and typology is well served by outstanding OT scholar Derek Kidner.Balanced and biblical based study companion to this minor prophet. Background and Hebrew translation help with vital words to this book such as "chesed" and "ruchamah" are handled accurately.Maps and addenda will aid the user. Highly recommended.