Post by kandace on Mar 31, 2024 7:07:35 GMT -5
Background: Hosea 6:1-3, Matthew 12:39-40, Mark 9:30-31, Luke 9:21-22, John 2:18-22, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Focus Verse: Hosea 6:2
Hosea: As we discussed in our prior lesson, “The Messianic Prophecy of the Lord’s Return From Egypt,” the prophet Hosea (his name means “salvation” or “he saves” or “he helps”) was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah. His ministry was centered in the northern kingdom of Israel, in contrast to Isaiah whose ministry was centered in the southern kingdom of Judah.
Hosea had an extremely lengthy prophetic ministry, approximately 60 years, from about the 780s B.C. to mid-730s B.C. This covered the reigns of the Israelite kings Jeroboam II to Hoshea, the last Israelite king. The northern kingdom would fall to the Assyrians about a decade after the end of his ministry, when Hosea was most likely deceased.
The central theme of the book of Hosea is the rebelliousness and infidelity of the Israelite people to their covenant with God. Hosea prophesied that this rebellion would bring about divine wrath and judgment, but the same God who judged His people would also heal and restore them if they turned to Him in repentance.
Third Day Resurrection Prophecy: Hosea’s prophecy explicitly foretells that the Savior would rise from the dead after three days. Acts 10:39-40. As the Apostle Paul stated in I Corinthians, “that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” I Corinthians 15:4. During His ministry, Christ repeatedly told his disciples that he would be killed, buried, and resurrected on the third day. Matt. 12:39-40; Mark 9:30-31; Luke 9:21-22; John 2:18-22
But why was Christ raised from the end after three days? What was the significance of this three-day period? To understand this, we must understand the importance of numbers in Scripture.
Numerical metaphors in the Bible: Numbers were important in the ancient world. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all assigned particular meanings to numbers. In the Scriptures there are recurring patterns of numbers being associated with various spiritual themes. Forty symbolizes periods of spiritual probation or trial (Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the wilderness, 40 years of Israel in wilderness). Ten symbolizes completeness of divine judgment (10 plagues of Egypt, 10 Commandments). Seven symbolizes spiritual perfection (God resting on 7th day, 7 Spirits).
Significance of the Number Three in the Old Testament: The number three appears in the Bible 467 times, fewer than the number seven (which appears more than 700 times), but more than most of the other symbolically important numbers.
The number three symbolizes divine unity and perfection. God is One Being who is paradoxically Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and this is reflected in how He works through humanity and how He is worshipped. God’s covenant with Noah to begin life anew and never flood the earth again was fulfilled through the renewal of humanity through Noah’s three sons (Ham, Shem, Japheth). There were three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) who symbolized the Abrahamic Covenant. There were three divisions which comprised the architecture of Tabernacle/Temple (Outer Court, Holy Place, Holy of Holies) The threefold repetition by the angels in Isaiah 6:1-3 and Revelation 4:6-8, “Holy! Holy! Holy!” emphasizes God’s complete holiness.