Hosea

In Hosea, one of the prophetic books in the Old Testament, God does not just ask the prophet Hosea to preach, but he asks him to embark on a difficult life (“Marry a promiscuous woman”) in order to paint a picture of God’s relationship with his people Israel in the years before the Assyrian captivity. Singer/songwriter and worship leader Rachel Willhelm has created a wonderful album that walks us through the book of Hosea from chapter 1, “Marry a Whore (Hosea 1),” to chapter 14, “Orphan Israel (Hosea 14.)”

Hosea is far from a typical modern Christian album as it is neither a worship album nor an album of songs reflecting on the Christian life. It is, simply, a bible study. Willhelm used her study of this prophetic book to give us a window into understanding the book better. The music is acoustic-based Americana, and each song reflects another chapter or two of the biblical text. She wraps the album up with the only song not specifically from a chapter in the book, the beautiful “I Love You,” where she summarizes the uplifting part of God’s message in Hosea: “I bought you with a price,” and “I will give you life.”

Rachel Willhelm has now produced two albums based on prophetic books, Jeremiah (released in 2023) and the new Hosea. Both are outstanding examples of how Christian art can reflect and amplify God’s Word and help us better understand it. Hosea is an album you will not soon forget. (Bandcamp)