Hosea 1 - 4

Hosea is given a strange command by God:  marry a woman given with an adulterous nature.  Hosea follows this command, and 3 children are born.  Each child is given a name reflective of what God would do to the nation.  God presents a case for the nation's adultery, and lays out the charges against the nation that said it would love and cling to God but did not.  However, God would show mercy to His people and they would return to Him.  Hosea is told to go bring back his wayward wife; and he does.  The Lord also brings out the charges against His wayward people who have left Him for adulterous idolatry.