Author: Administrador

At first glance, the parent-child metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel in the book of Hosea seems much more palatable than the marriage metaphor in chapters 1-3. The image begins with the God’s adoption of Israel, liberating them from bondage in Egypt. Yet, this relationship also quickly turns sour: “the more I called them, the … Continue reading “Hosea 11:1-11 Commentary by David G. Garber Jr.”

Long before the American sitcom “The Office” launched Steve Carell’s career and the U.K.’s version catapulted Ricky Gervais to fame, there were biblical offices that proscribed one’s identity. “The Office” hit a nerve with viewers because it displayed how the modern office (workplace) shaped identity. In biblical times, an office required virtues and behaviors from … Continue reading “Hosea 11:1-11 Commentary by Stephen Reid”

“Sorrow and love flow mingled down” from the lines of this poem.1 The poet draws on imagery from across the spectrum, as if grasping desperately for a metaphor, however inadequate, to capture the turmoil brewing in God’s heart. Israel is a recalcitrant son (v. 2), idolatrous (v. 2), an ungrateful patient of the divine healer … Continue reading “Hosea 11:1-9 Commentary by Michael J. Chan”

However one seeks to wrestle a word of good news from these two excerpts from Hosea one cannot escape the end of the narrative for Israel expressed in 2 Kings 17:6 (“The king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria”). We might too soon rush to Hosea 11:8-9 (“How can I … Continue reading “Hosea 6:1-6; 11:1-9 Commentary by Richard W. Nysse”

Following the devastation of the previous verses, 5:15 is a word from God that introduces the response from Israel in 6:1-3. God backs away from the devastating situation, returns home, and waits “until.” God is a waiting God: until they acknowledge that they need forgiveness. Israel has gone through a horrendous judgment. Repentance is possible … Continue reading “Hosea 5:15-6:6 Commentary by Terence E. Fretheim”

Hosea 1:2-10 introduces the metaphor that occupies chapters 1-2 and that resonates throughout the book — a bad marriage that is saved by the loving forgiveness of the faithful partner. The metaphor is full of both possibilities and problems. On the one hand, it communicates poignantly the consequences of infidelity, as well as the gracious, … Continue reading “Hosea 1:2-10 Commentary by J. Clinton McCann”

Preaching and teaching from the prophets is already difficult. The task becomes all the more complicated when the prophets use language and metaphors that conflict with modern sensibilities about gender, marriage, and sexuality. On the surface, it seems obvious why Hosea would choose marriage imagery to convey the intimate relationship between God and God’s people, … Continue reading “Hosea 1:2-10 Commentary by David G. Garber Jr.”

As the reader of the book of Hosea moves from interpreting to preaching, unresolved and highly debated issues are wisely set aside. At the very least, the proclamation should not be dependent on what side one takes in debated interpretative issues. For example, many interpreters have debated the relationship of the command to marry in … Continue reading “Hosea 1:2-10 Commentary by Richard W. Nysse”

Our lectionary text for today considers a question that these days may be all too real for those of us beleaguered by the free-fall of the economy, unemployment, a life-threatening disease — all realities that may leave us with little if any hope: How does one speak about hope when one is threatened from all … Continue reading “Daniel 12:1-3 Commentary by Juliana Claassens”

Today’s reading from Daniel 12 consists of an apocalyptic scenario — an unveiling (which is the meaning of the Greek word apokalypsis from which our term “apocalyptic” comes) of the end of human history. Daniel’s writers understand this end to be in the near future, an imminent event. In this scenario, God’s angelic agent, Michael, … Continue reading “Daniel 12:1-3 Commentary by Amy Merrill Willis”