DON’T MARRY A GOMER
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART XIV (TOPIC: DATING)
INTRO: WE ARE CONTINUING THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1. THE MATRIMONY.
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:2-3
1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the LORD.” 1:3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him.
A. Don’t Marry a Woman Named Gomer (Joking Here).
Just kidding here, but who ever thought of marrying someone named Gomer (lead yourselves to some laughs here). But then mention there are some serious points coming up.
B. I Don’t Have the Foggiest Idea Why God Would Order Anyone to Do Such a Thing.
God has a strong point he is going to make for all the world to see through this horrible matrimony. To give you the cliff notes (er, for you guys, the wikipedia summary), God is going to be represented by the faithful husband named Hosea, while Gomer is going to be represented by the unfaithful bride of Christ, or the church. God is going to use this example as to how adulterous our generations actually will be.
C. Tough Point: Our Modern Generations Are in the Habit of Marrying Adulterous People All the Time
Everyone lean it to this point, this is going to hit hard. For those hundreds of thousands of young people living together, sleeping together, and exchanging their gift of spiritual purity over for what they think is simply a fun, recreational activity (talking about sex here), we are Gomer.
D. But Tom, you told us…not to be “Yoked” to an unbeliever? Isn’t God breaking this here?
Let me ask you a question, is he? (give time for some response). Obviously, God cannot sin, therefore God cannot tell Hosea to marry a non-believer. So what does this say about Gomer? It says that she is a believer AND a prostitute. Wow, how horrible is that situation!
E. Should Anyone One of Us Marry an Adulterer like Gomer?
Then why are we doing just that? Seriously, our generation is full of this sort of thing. Why are we shocked in the Bible when this happens when most of our friends are doing exactly the same thing.
F. But it is Actually Worse Than that (may be excluded depending on the audience, lots of meat here).
The word “prostitute” is the word “zyunim” which means “harlot, prostitute.” Why the double meaning? Because there were prostitutes, and then there were PROSTITUTES. And this word “zyunim” was typically used (but not always) to describe a “temple prostitute.” That’s right, the kind of girl that didn’t just roam the streets, she gave herself to others while they paid money and worshipped false gods/graven images. Wow!
2. THE RELATIONSHIP
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:4-5
1:4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 1:5 At that time,I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:6
1:6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt.
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:8-9
1:8 When she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 1:9 Then the LORD said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”
A. On the Surface, Things Seem to be Doing Well.
After all, the loving couple now have 3 kids, family appears to be functioning as a unit, everything looks from the basic outline of the text to be a well run unit.
*By the way, things are not always what they appear. Please, do NOT go looking at marriages to find fault or to see if things are really as great as they look to be great. But know, that there are some real good-looking marriages that are horrible behind the scenes, and have compassion for those families.
B. Why the Harsh Names?
I. Jezreel: Place Where Israel Military Power is Going to Be Destroyed
II. Lo-Ruhamah: No Pity
III. Lo-Ammi: Not My People
3. THE REALITY:
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 2:2-5
2:2 Plead earnestly with your mother(for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband),so that she might put an end to her adulterous lifestyle, and turn away from her sexually immoral behavior. 2:3 Otherwise, I will strip her naked, and expose her like she was when she was born. I will turn her land into a wilderness and make her country a parched land, so that I might kill her with thirst.2:4 I will have no pity on her children, 10 because they are children conceived in adultery. 2:5 For their mother has committed adultery; she who conceived them has acted shamefully.For she said, “I will seek out my lovers; they are the ones who give me my bread and my water, my wool, my flax, my olive oil, and my wine.
A. How does the Bible describe her lifestyle (verse 2)? Adulterous.
B. What is about to happen to her life (verse 2)? She will be exposed.
C. How were her children conceived (verse 4)? From adultery.
D. What Does This Say About Hosea?
This means that Hosea has been a dutiful father to 3 children, none of which were his own. And as far as he knew, they were children from 3 different men. This is absolutely unbelievable!
E. There are Multiple Lessons Here! (Have the Students List Them, See What They Say).
Possible Answers:
I. God loves us and takes care of us despite our own adulterous behaviors.
II. Hosea was awesome and very forgiving.
III. Hosea knew the importance of commitment.
IV. People who refuse to stop partying are crazy.
V. People get abandoned when others get selfish.
VI. Numerous others here.
4. THE CONCLUSION:
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 3:1 (not the main point, can be potentially skipped depending on audience)
3:1 The LORD said to me, “Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery. Likewise, the LORD loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”
A. First, We See What Was Finally the Big Pull For Gomer…Partying & Raisin Cakes!
What? Raisin Cakes? Gomer was resisting the Lord’s will in her life, abandoning her children, forsaking her husband, everything…for the party…and the highlight of sacrificial raisin cakes? Unbelievable!
*Remember, people who run from the Lord today are just as stupid. I mean, think about it…meth? Or any other drug for that matter? Isn’t that unbelievable as well?
B. The Technical: Love to Offer Raisin Cakes to Idols.
Literally means, “they are lovers of cakes and raisins.” It doesn’t mean anything more than that.
C. But Check the Verse Here…When Did Hosea Go and Search For Her?
When she was in love with another man. And that is exactly what God does for us. While we are sinning, while we are in the depths of despair and hopelessness, when we cannot possible dig ourselves out, that is when He goes and finds us. Now, are we smart enough to go with him?
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 3:2-3
3:2 So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barley to purchase her. 3:3 Then I told her, “You must live with me many days; you must not commit adultery or have sexual intercourse with another man, and I also will wait for you.”
A. Why the Odd Number?
This is very strong if explained right. The number is odd (15 shekels of silver & 7 bushels of barley) because she was sold into slavery, and he had to barter for his own wife. He probably took every penny he had, was probably borrowing from people in the crowd, essentially begging to have enough to purchase his wife back. It is unbelievable!
B. And God is Unbelievable!
And God is truly unbelievable. For while we were still sinners, he died for us. And then, in our life, when we are absolutely in are lowliest spot, rather than walking out on us, he finds us, buys us, and calls us his family again. Awesome.
Sources:
Bible.org. Hosea 1:2, key word: prostitute, hypertext # 12.
Strauss, Richard L. Undying Love—The Story of Gomer and Hosea. 13 Part Series titled Living in Love: Secrets From Bible Marriages. Emmanuel Faith Community Church, California.
NAME: __________________________
DON’T MARRY A GOMER
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART XIV (TOPIC: DATING)
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1. THE _______________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:2-3
A. What is the woman’s name? ___________________________
B. Why would God order this marriage? ___________________________
C. Does this happen in today’s age? ___________________________
ADDITIONAL TOUGH QUESTIONS:
2. THE RELATIONSHIP
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 1:4-9
A. On the surface, how do things seem to be going? ___________________________
B. What is up with the Odd Names?
Jezreel: _____________________________
Lo-Ruhamah: _____________________________
Lo-Ammi: _____________________________
3. THE REALITY:
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 2:2-5
A. How does the Bible describe her lifestyle (verse 2)?___________________________
B. What is about to happen to her life (verse 2)? ____________________________
C. How were her children conceived (verse 4)? ____________________________
D. What Does This Say About Hosea?
4. THE CONCLUSION:
BIBLE VERSE: Hosea 3:1-2
A. What turned out to be the big draw for Gomer? _____________________________
B. When did Hosea go and search for her? _____________________________
C. Why the odd payment? _____________________________
CLOSE: WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR US?