The Restoration Project Podcast

the restoration project. Joshua James. 8 July 2018

Ok. So Hosea is the jumping off point here, but the sermon isn't *really* about Hosea. Instead, we are using some of our work (in Hosea 5–6 and 11) as the necessary background for understanding how the NT authors (Matthew, in particular) are using the Old Testament. And it probably isn't how you envision.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 1 July 2018

In this week's teaching, we get a bit historical as we discuss the expansion of the neo-Assyrian empire in the 8th century and the Syro-Ephraimite War. Don't worry ... there's a reason for this. These events stand in the background of Hosea's prophetic work in chapters 5 and 6. If we don't know what's going on in the world at the time, the import of his message will be lost. So this teaching is part history lesson, part biblical interpretation 101, part "let's see what any of this has to do with us."

the restoration project. Joshua James. 24 June 2018

the restoration project. Joshua James. 17 June 2018

the restoration project. Suzi Peterson. 10 June 2018

The story of Hosea and Gomer's marriage in chapters 1–3 sets the framework for our understanding of the larger portion of the book that follows—Hosea's prophetic oracles to the people of Israel. In this first oracle, Hosea indicts the people and the priesthood for their failure to follow God alone.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 3 June 2018

Chapter 3 of the book of Hosea is often described as Hosea's first person account of his marriage (and its difficulties). Whatever Gomer's "harlotry" consisted of prior to their marriage, it manifests here in adultery. She chooses other lovers, and leaves home. Hosea is given the task to go find her and love her ... just as the Lord loves Israel.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 27 May 2018

In this week's teaching, we explore (most of) chapter 2 in the book of Hosea. Set in between the divinely inspired "sign act" of chapter 1 and the reflection of Hosea's own marriage in chapter 3, this prophetic message is an allegorical depiction of the "marriage relationship" between God and Israel.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 20 May 2018

Prophetic sign acts are a powerful form of carefully choreographed street theatre meant to move (and convict and challenge) people. In Hosea 1, we are confronted with such an act, as Hosea is told to marry a "woman of harlotry" and to have "children of harlotry." This is to be a lived symbol of the (one-sided) covenantal relationship between God and Israel. In this teaching, Josh explores the imagery of Hosea 1 in its context and introduces the tension that is present in the book between judgment and hope.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 13 May 2018

Introducing a new series is always a bit tough, especially when you're introducing one of the Prophets. Each prophetic book is engaging a specific socio-political, socio-religious, and socio-historical context, so it is important to reconstruct this as best as we can. In this first teaching, we don't really do that. (Sorry. That'll come.) Instead, we go back in time about 200 years before Hosea to make sure we are aware of one fact: the kingdom was divided. Israel was operating in the North, and Judah in the South. Each kingdom had its own king, its own alliances, its own religious centers, and ... its own prophets.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 6 May 2018