Hosea 1 and 2 are written much earlier than Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Hosea is written during the time when the kings of Israel sinned while the kings of Judah remained faithful. Hosea, like Ezekiel, is asked to represent Israel in his life. Israel is acting like an unfaithful wife, so Hosea is to marry a prostitute. Their children represent the relationship between God and Israel.

The first child is named Jezreel after the valley in which Israel sinned. The next child is named

Lo-ruhamah, meaning “no pity,” because God will have no pity on Israel. The third child is named Lo-ammi, meaning “not my people,” because the people have rejected God and now God is rejecting them.

The children are instructed to plead with their mother and call her to account. God says the Israel will be punished for a time but that if she is willing to give up her lovers, the gods, the Baals, God will restore His relationship with her. He will take her back as His wife forever. Her children will then be name Ruhamah, “pity” for God will show pity on Israel and Ammi, “my people” because He will make them his people again and He will be their God.

 Jude, like in the letters of John, warns about non-Christians who have come into a church. They are only there for themselves and are causing divisions in the faith community. Jude encourages the faithful to build themselves up in the faith so they may preach the word against those who are sinning. The hope is that they will recognize the error of their ways and come to faith. The faithful need to be strong enough not to be pulled in by the others and led into a sinful life.