{"product_id":"hosea-mark-a-marsten-9798185052723","title":"Hosea: Prophet of Doom and Hope","description":"Hosea was an 8th-century BC prophet whose audience was primarily the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hosea began prophesying during a time of relative peace. Jeroboam II (793-753 BC) was a very strong and influential leader. The country was strong and the borders secure. The economy was flourishing, and many people were wealthy. However, many more were also poverty-stricken. Unfortunately, the wealthy exploited the disadvantaged, often buying and selling the poor in the open market. Religious practices were suffering a similar fate. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePeople didn't feel the need for divine guidance and protection because they believed they could take care of themselves. Temple prostitution, common in the worship of Baal, was flourishing, as was the construction and use of \"high places,\" with their attendant Ashera Poles and statues. Also, calf worship was flourishing in Bethel and Dan. Amos had also preached against these evil excesses but had enjoyed precious little success. Israel had abandoned \u003cb\u003eGod\u003c\/b\u003e and reverted to idolatry. Reverting to idolatry in Asherah worship was terrible enough, but Israel's primary sin was turning her back on God. This was much more than mere ritualistic failure; it represented a moral failure at the epicenter of Israel's long-standing relationship with God. Therefore, He denounced His covenant with Israel, and He vowed to do all kinds of terrible things to His faithless people. He would make Israel destitute. Hosea's ministry was devoted entirely to making people aware of the divine judgment that lurked just over the horizon unless they came back to God in sincere repentance and turned back to His plan for their lives. This book attempts to explain, verse by verse, what Hosea preached to accomplish this end. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mark A. Marsten\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798185052723\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/03\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.99lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.70d","brand":"Mark A. Marsten","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49174180856063,"sku":"9798185052723","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/hosea-mark-a-marsten-9798185052723","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}