Conditions of Israel. Outwardly there was prosperity.  Syria and Moab had been conquered; commerce had greatly increased; the borders of the land had been extended and the temple offerings were ample. Inwardly there was decay.  Gross immoralities were being introduced; worship was being polluted and the masses of the people crushed, while the Assyrian Empire was advancing and ready to crush Israel, whom, because of her sins, God had abandoned to her fate.

They countenanced oppression, murder, lying, stealing, swearing, etc.  They had forgotten the law and their covenant to keep it and had substituted the worship of Baal for that of Jehovah, thereby becoming idolaters.  They no longer looked to God in their distress but turned to Egypt and Assyria for help, and thereby put security and prosperity on a basis of human strength and wisdom instead of resting them upon a hope of divine favor.

Analysis.

I. Israel’s Sin. illustrated by the tragedy of Hosea’s unfortunate marriage, Chs. 1-3.

   1.  His evil wife and their children, Ch. 1.

2.  Israel’s unfaithfulness and return to God seen in the evil women, Ch. 2.

   3.  God’s love restores Israel as Hosea does his wife, Ch. 3.

 II.  The Prophetic Discourses, Chs. 4-14.

   1.  Israel’s sin, Chs. 4-8.

   2.  Israel’s coming punishment, Chs. 9-11.

3.  Israel’s repentance and restoration, Chs. 12-14.  For Study and Discussion. (1) Make a list of all the exhortations to penitence and reformation and study them. (2) Point out the different utterances of judgment upon the people. (3) Make a list of all the different sins condemned. (4) Make a list of the expressions of tender love for the wayward and backsliding one. (5) Make a list of all passages indicating grief and suffering because of the sin and danger of the one loved. (6) Political and religious apostacy. (7) Sin as infidelity to love-as spiritual adultery. (8) The invitations of the book.

Joel.

The Prophet.  His name means “Jehovah is God,” but his birth-place and conditions of life are unknown.  He very probably prophesied in Judah (2:15-17) and the time of his ministry is commonly thought to have been during the reign of Joash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah.  It seems certain his is one of the earliest (some think the very earliest) of the prophetic books, and his references to the temple and its services have caused some to conclude he was a priest.

The Prophecy. (1) The occasion of the prophecy was four successive plagues of insects, particularly the locusts (2:25) and a drouth (2:23) which had been unprecedented.  These calamities the prophet declares are the results of their sins and should call them to repentance, that God may bless instead of curse their land. (2) The people repent and the calamity is removed.  This is used by the prophet to foreshadow