Many biblical prophets bring a message of warning of coming destruction because of the people's unfaithfulness and hope in God's faithfulness. These two messages are often held in tension. Hosea, the prophet of the Northern kingdom, does the same as he refers to events in Israel's history. Together as a group try to identify the biblical characters and stories that the passages refers to. For an example click here.
Examine Chapter 14 in detail.
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for your sins have brought you down.
Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord.
Say to him,
“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,
so that we may offer you our praises.[b]
Assyria cannot save us,
nor can our warhorses.
Never again will we say to the idols we have made,
‘You are our gods.’
No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”
for your sins have brought you down.
Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord.
Say to him,
“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,
so that we may offer you our praises.[b]
Assyria cannot save us,
nor can our warhorses.
Never again will we say to the idols we have made,
‘You are our gods.’
No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”
The Lord says,
“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;
my love will know no bounds,
my love will know no bounds,
for my anger will be gone forever.
I will be to Israel
like a refreshing dew from heaven.
like a refreshing dew from heaven.
Israel will blossom like the lily;
it will send roots deep into the soil
like the cedars in Lebanon.
Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees
as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.
My people will again live under my shade.
They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevine.
They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.
“O Israel,[c] stay away from idols!
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green;
all your fruit comes from me.”
Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right.
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
it will send roots deep into the soil
like the cedars in Lebanon.
Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees
as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.
My people will again live under my shade.
They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevine.
They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.
“O Israel,[c] stay away from idols!
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green;
all your fruit comes from me.”
Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right.
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
* Use the Swedish method (highlight, question, application).
*How does this passage give hope?
* Pray for and encourage those in the group who find it hard to have faith and hope in God's love.
*How does this passage give hope?
* Pray for and encourage those in the group who find it hard to have faith and hope in God's love.
Kdrama Illustration
In the kdrama, "Kill me, Heal me" Cha Do Hyun has multiple personality disorder and has six identities. For him to become whole, the personalities need to be "killed" for him to become healed and become an integrated whole person. In a same way, God's people needs to give up their idols in order to become whole in God's love.
“I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them".
To go further, watch this video,
How does David Parson unpack the book of Hosea?
How does it compare with what you have learnt in our bible studies?
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