Hosea Chapter 3 Breakdown

1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”

YHWH tells Hosea again to go and love a prostitute. He says YHWH feels this way, which He loves Israel and Israel is chasing after other gods. Imagine that, you are madly in love with your spouse, the one you married and committed yourself to. Then, that person chooses to go in search of other men/women. Continually chasing another man and partaking in things pleasing to them but extraordinarily offensive to you. How much pain does this cause in one’s heart? Now, this is how YHWH feels when His people do not keep their vows to Him and instead choose to worship other gods, keep pagan holidays, and celebrate pagan Sabbaths.

2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.

Hosea went out and paid his wife to stay with him in order to keep her from committing adultery.

3 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.”

Hosea made a deal with his wife saying that because I paid for you, you shall no longer go out and prostitute yourself with other men. You must stay with me and be faithful, and I will stay with you and be faithful.

Oh the prophetic implications here. This is exactly what we see with Yeshua. YHWH has loved His people so much that He pays for them to be with Him. We will get into this later.

4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim.

Israel, will be scattered into the nations where they will spend generations without YHWH, without sacrifices and without having an alter to YHWH. They will not have a high priest during this time either, nor will they have idols to worship. They will be looking for these things, but will not find them.

5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.

It will be after all these generations Israel will return to seeking YHWH their God, and David, their king. Israel will find the fear of YHWH and see His goodness in the last days.

The prophecy here is scattered or dispersed Israel will return, while still among the gentile nations, to seeking the truth of YHWH. His Law is truth. They will desire to find Him and return to His ways, His Laws, and His instructions. YHWH will do something to pay for them, and when that happens it starts them on their way back to Him because it keeps them in His presence for a period of time. This, in my opinion is what reminds them that He is there.