• Title Page
• Pentateuch
• History
• Poetry
• Prophets
  • Lesson 23: Introduction to the Prophetic Scriptures
  • Lesson 24: Joel
  • Lesson 25: Jonah
  • Lesson 26: Amos
  • Lesson 27: Hosea
  • Lesson 28: Micah
  • Lesson 29: Isaiah
  • Lesson 30: Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Obadiah
  • Lesson 31: Jeremiah
  • Lesson 32: Ezekiel
• Post Captivity Prophets
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles

of Hosea 1, 2 and 3, and all that has intervened has been in the nature of amplification of the other verses of those chapters. The importance of seizing upon such a simple principle as this in interpreting the prophets is too apparent to require emphasis.

The Future Hope, Hosea 14

Let us remember, therefore, that the viewpoint of this chapter is about the same as that of Hosea 1:10-11; 2:14-23, and 3:5. With that understanding, let us divide it into its several parts, finding in it material for another discourse or Bible reading.

• The gracious appeal, Hosea 14:1-3.
• The promised blessing, Hosea 14:4-8.
• The practical application, Hosea 14:9.

Observe in the appeal that the very words are put on Israel’s lips with which they are to return to God. Observe the freeness of God’s blessing to them on the ground of repentance and faith (Hosea 14:4). Observe the figurative allusions to the source and character of these blessings in that day (Hosea 14:5-7), fully agreeing again with Amos 9:11-15. Hosea 14:8 might be considered as a future dialogue between Ephraim and Jehovah. Hosea 14:9 justifies us, as was said before, in employing the whole subject in a spiritual sense and applying it to the present church period in which we dwell.

Micah

There are three prophets who now form a group by themselves, Micah, Nahum and Isaiah. These all lived and prophesied at about the same time, the first of whom will be considered in this lesson.

The little known of the prophet Micah is briefly stated. From what town did he originate as gathered from Micah 1:1? Calling himself a Morasthite probably indicates Moresheth, or Mareshah, as his birthplace in the southwestern part of Judah, near Gath. The time of his prophesying is shown in the same verse by the reference to the kings of Judah, as between 758 to 700 B.C. He seems to have been the writer of his own book, if we may judge from the personal allusions in Micah 3:1, 8, and to have finally died in peace, judging by Jeremiah 26:18-19. He is frequently referred to as a prophet, and his utterances quoted, not only in the instances above given, but in Isaiah 2:2-4, and 41:15; Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:19; Matthew 2:5, and John 7:42.