DOCSLIB.ORG

Hosea 14 God's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hosea 14 God's Hosea 14 God’s 'Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from me. Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.' Introduction Hosea Chapter 14 begins with a beautiful picture of what true repentance looks like. It then shows in powerful, visceral words how God will respond and bless those who truly repent. It calls us to see this repentance as beautiful flowers and majestic trees, rich verdant grape vines and fields of grain. It invites us to think of those who repent and are blessed as a beautiful aroma like a forest of Cedar trees. It ends with a final call to embrace true wisdom by following God’s good way . When read by itself this chapter provides an incredible word of encouragement that repentance will bring unbelievable care and blessing from a good and loving father. However, for Hosea, this is only a picture of what could have been, what should have been, not what will be for Israel. If this sermon follows the others chronologically, then at this point Israel is almost completely destroyed, just waiting for the final blow to fall. Centuries of utter apostasy and adultery by the Northern Kingdom of Israel have led to a people whose consciences have been seared, who are beyond repentance and beyond hope. God has made it all too clear that these people have run out of chances, their sin has come to its full measure and they will be utterly destroyed. How it must have broken his heart to know that these promises were not for his people. God is patient, but his patience has an end. These messages of hope remain for all today, but like Israel, God will not wait forever for those who will not repent. Day 2 - Hosea 14:1-3 'Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. What does he mean by “return?” To whom does he say they should return? Is he REALLY the Lord their God? What does it mean they “stumbled” and what caused them to do so? Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. What two things does he tell them to do? The text just says “words” this translation adds “of repentance”, do you think that is appropriate? If not what would it mean to “take words with you”? What does repentance mean and look like in practice? What specifically does Hosea tell them to say to God? What is the “good” here they should accept? For what would they “repay” God, and how would they do that? How would that be considered “payment?” Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. What else does he say they should say to God? Why would they say Assyria would save us, aren’t they ones who are the greatest danger? What would it mean to “not ride on horses”? Why should they not proclaim “our Gods!” to works of their hands? For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” Who are the fatherless here? Just those without fathers? What does it mean to receive compassion? Day 3 Hosea 14:4-7 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. How will God “heal” their apostasy, wouldn’t their repentance have indicated they are already “healed”? What does this “healing” look like? What does it mean he will “freely love them”, and what turned his anger from them? I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. What does it mean to be like “the dew to Israel?” What does it mean to “blossom like a lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon?” Is this just saying the same thing twice or does one build upon the other? 2 What does it mean that new branches would spread? Is this referring to physical growth of Israel or spiritual? What would this “splendor like an olive tree” look like and mean? What would it mean to have a “fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon”? The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. Who are these people who will return and whose “shade” will they live beneath? What will happen to these people? His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. What does this mean? Renown among whom? Day 4 Hosea 14:8-9 Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? Why does he say “why should “I”, presumably God, have anything to do with idols in the first place?” Is he saying “ I will not put up with your idols any longer?” It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from me. Who is it who watches over whom here? What is God saying here? Do pine trees have fruit??? What is this saying? Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. Is this Hosea speaking now? Why is this summary ending here? Does he think anyone is wise and insightful? Is he saying it is wise to understand these things, or if you are wise you will? Is there a difference? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.' What is Hosea affirming here about God’s ways? The last phrase indicated the wise recognize what is right, but what do the righteous do? Is there a difference between the wise and the righteous? What characterizes the righteous? What do God’s ways represent for the rebellious? Does God’s ways cause them to stumble, or do they point out their stumbling? (Do any other passages speak directly to this question of whether the law causes them to sin or marks out their sin)? 3 Discussion Questions 'Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” Hosea is laying out specific details of how they can repent and return to God. What specific types of things does he lay out here? What does he call for them to repent? Is he sincere in this call for repentance? Does he expect them to repent and is there any chance they will? How can we answer the previous question based on all that he has said in the rest of this book? If Israel has demonstrated over its entire existence that it will not turn back to God, and if Hosea KNOWS they will be destroyed, hey does he offer this entreaty? What does this mean to us? If we are believers do we need to repent in this way? Is this type of confession and repentance a once and for all thing we do at “salvation” or is it something we have to repeat occasionally or should it be a total way of life? How often do you offer this type of repentance? I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Minor Prophets Michael B
    Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville Faculty Books 6-26-2018 A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets Michael B. Shepherd Cedarville University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Shepherd, Michael B., "A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets" (2018). Faculty Books. 201. http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets Keywords Old Testament, prophets, preaching Disciplines Biblical Studies | Religion Publisher Kregel Publications Publisher's Note Taken from A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © Copyright 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. ISBN 9780825444593 This book is available at DigitalCommons@Cedarville: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE KREGEL EXEGETICAL LIBRARY A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE The Minor Prophets MICHAEL B. SHEPHERD Kregel Academic A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel Inc., 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a re- trieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, me- chanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.
    [Show full text]
  • The Book of Joel: Anticipating a Post-Prophetic Age
    HAYYIM ANGEL The Book of Joel: Anticipating a Post-Prophetic Age Introduction OF THE FIFTEEN “Latter Prophets”, Joel’s chronological setting is the most difficult to identify. Yet, the dating of the book potentially has significant implications for determining the overall purposes of Joel’s prophecies. The book’s outline is simple enough. Chapters one and two are a description of and response to a devastating locust plague that occurred in Joel’s time. Chapters three and four are a prophecy of consolation predict- ing widespread prophecy, a major battle, and then ultimate peace and pros- perity.1 In this essay, we will consider the dating of the book of Joel, the book’s overall themes, and how Joel’s unique message fits into his likely chronological setting.2 Dating Midrashim and later commentators often attempt to identify obscure figures by associating them with known figures or events. One Midrash quoted by Rashi identifies the prophet Joel with the son of Samuel (c. 1000 B.C.E.): When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his first-born son was Joel, and his second son’s name was Abijah; they sat as judges in Beer-sheba. But his sons did not follow in his ways; they were bent on gain, they accepted bribes, and they subvert- ed justice. (I Sam. 8:1-3)3 RABBI HAYYIM ANGEL is the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel. He is the author of several books including Creating Space Between Peshat & Derash: A Collection of Studies on Tanakh. 21 22 Milin Havivin Since Samuel’s son was wicked, the Midrash explains that he must have repented in order to attain prophecy.
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea Randall L
    Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty School of Biblical and Theological Studies Publications 6-2007 Book Review: Hosea Randall L. McKinion Cedarville University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/ biblical_and_ministry_studies_publications Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation McKinion, Randall L., "Book Review: Hosea" (2007). Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications. 264. http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/biblical_and_ministry_studies_publications/264 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 388 journal of the evangelical theological society 50/2 glasses of modern scholarship. God’s love for and redemption of his creation are exem- plified in the intense attraction between male and female while the need for such love and redemption is exemplified in the frustration and disaster experienced in love con- trary to God’s design. Does not appreciating the text include recognizing the use of imperative forms and the threefold repetition of a stanza (2:7; 3:4; 8:4) that provides the most obvious inter- pretive key (see my “Song of Songs: Increasing Appreciation of and Restraint in Matters of Love, AUSS 42 [2004] 305–24)? If Exum would have us appreciate the text, where is the careful analysis, for example, of the use of imperatives in connection with verbs of pursuit and consummation? Similarly, why not consider how the Greek text so clearly agrees with OT usage in explaining the significance of terms like “gazelles” and “does?” J.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Hosea . 2. Gomer . 3. Their Children
    places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy! James 4:4 (TPT) 2. _____________________________________________. She doesn't realize it was I who gave her everything she has—the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all My gifts to Baal. 9 "But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine I generously provided each harvest season. I will take away the wool and linen clothing I gave her to cover her nakedness. 12…things she claims her lovers gave her. Hosea 2:8, 9, 12 (NLT) 7 ORD Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest The L gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, 8 Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the was king of Israel. 2 When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT) he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute 3. ______________________________________________. 3 by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.” So Hosea married That is why I'm going to win her back.
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea 13-Jonah 4
    Hosea 13-Jonah 4: September 7: Hosea 13-14 1. Who is responsible for Israel’s destruction, according to 13:9? Who alone can provide the solution? How does this proclaim the gospel to us today? 2. Compare Hosea 14:1-3 with Hosea 6:1-3. One passage expresses genuine repentance, while the other expresses false repentance (compare verse 4 of each to see God’s response). How are the two “repentences” different? Have you genuinely repented? Introduction to Joel: Author/Date: Very little is known about the author of this book. Joel’s name means “the Lord is God” and he seems to be among the earliest of the writing prophets. Joel 1:13 and 2:17 indicate that the temple was still established, while the enemies mentioned (3:2) suggest an earlier date as well. The MacArthur Study Bible suggests that the book was composed during the reign of Joash (835-796 BC), though this is not certain. Themes: The main message of the book of Joel is “the day of the LORD.” In the Bible, “the day of the LORD” refers not to a single day, but rather to a broader timeframe of judgment. Sometimes, it refers to more immediate judgments experienced by Israel and Judah. Other times, it refers to something more remote. For example, I Thessalonians 5:2 speaks of the day of the Lord as a time of future, eschatological judgment, what might be called the Great Tribulation. Likewise, Revelation 16:14 refers to it as a future global judgment. At the heart of the book is a call to God’s people to repent (2:12-17).
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea 7 Commentary
    Hosea 7 Commentary Hosea 6Hosea's Unconditional Love for Gomer Hosea 8 Click chart to enlarge Click chart to enlarge Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission Click chart to enlarge OUTLINE OF HOSEA I. The Prodigal Wife, Hosea 1:1-3:5 A. Her Unfaithfulness, Hosea 1:1-11 B. Her Punishment, Hosea 2:1-13 C. Her Restoration and Israel's, Hosea 2:14-23 D. Her Redemption, Hosea 3:1-5 II. The Prodigal People, Hosea 4:1-14:9 A. The Message of Judgment, Hosea 4:1-10:15 1. The indictment, Hosea 4:1-19 2. The verdict, Hosea 5:1-15 3. The plea of Israel, Hosea 6:1-3 4. The reply of the Lord, Hosea 6:4-11 5. The crimes of Israel, Hosea 7:1-16 6. The prophecy of judgment, Hosea 8:1-10:15 B. The Message of Restoration, Hosea 11:1-14:9 1. God's love for the prodigal people, Hosea 11:1-11 2. God's chastisement of the prodigal people, Hosea 11:12-13:16 3. God's restoration of the prodigal people, Hosea 14:1-9 Ryrie Study Bible John Hannah's Outline - The prophet's message The prophet's message (Hosea 4:1-14:8) A. Jehovah's rejection of Israel (Hosea 4:1-7:16) 1. The faithlessness of Israel (Hosea 4:1-19) a. The fact of apostasy (Hosea 4:1-3) b. The reason for apostasy (Hosea 4:4-10) c. The course of apostasy (Hosea 4:11-19) 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea Vs. Gomer) (Hosea 1-3)
    The Book of Hosea I. A GRIEVING HUSBAND AND HIS GRIEVOUS WIFE (HOSEA VS. GOMER) (HOSEA 1-3). A. Hosea's wife, ill-famed. His wife Gomer was apparently a harlot before marriage and an adulteress after marriage. Hosea attempts in vain to save this marriage by: 1. Barring her from the markets of the world (2:6). Hosea thought he could force her to remain home in this manner. He even sought the help of his first son, Jezreel, asking him to reason with his mother concerning the folly of her ways (2:1-5). But all this was to no avail. Gomer apparently continues to run off at the first opportunity. 2. Buying her out of the markets of the world. It was not long before Gomer had been used, abused, and abandoned by her lustful lovers, and found herself in a slave market. God ordered Hosea to find and redeem her from this market (3:1-2). B. Hosea's children, ill-named. The prophet fathered three children through Gomer. Each child (at God's command) was given a name which carried with it prophetical meaning. 1. The first child, a boy, named Jezreel (1:4), meaning "to be scattered," predicted two future events. a. The setting aside of the dynasty of a northern king named Jehu. b. The Assyrian invasion, at which time the entire northern kingdom would be scattered (1:5). 2. The second child, a girl, named Lo-ruha-mah (1:6). This name literally meant, "no more mercy," indicating that God's judgment was just around the corner.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ROLE of SEMITIC CATCHWORDS in INTERPRETING the EPISTLE of JAMES Daniel K
    Tyndale Bulletin 70.2 (2019) 245-267 THE ROLE OF SEMITIC CATCHWORDS IN INTERPRETING THE EPISTLE OF JAMES Daniel K. Eng ([email protected]) Summary This article examines the arrangement of the Epistle of James in light of Semitic documents that display catchword association. James shows evidence of being a compilation, with adjacent sections frequently connected by a common cognate. After identifying patterns of catchword association in the Hebrew Bible, LXX, and Qumran, the article identifies instances of catchword association in the Epistle of James. Finally, some conclusions are drawn for James, including recommendations about the study of its genre, provenance, structure, and interpretation.1 1. Introduction This article examines the interpretation of the Epistle of James in light of Semitic documents that display catchword association. James shows evidence of having adjacent sections frequently connected by a common cognate, called a catchword, or Stichwort. While not necessarily displaying logical progression, the epistle shows consistency with an intentional Semitic custom of connecting material by catchword. After identifying patterns of catchword association in Jewish documents, we will examine similar arrangements in James and 1 Earlier versions of this article were presented at the Oxford-Cambridge Biblical Studies Conference, the British New Testament Conference, and the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, all in 2018. The author would like to thank those who gave helpful advice and feedback, especially K. Lawson Younger Jr., C. Hassell Bullock, J. LaRae Ferguson, David A. deSilva, Darian Lockett, Andrew Yee, and Jonathan Robinson. 246 TYNDALE BULLETIN 70.2 (2019) offer recommendations on how the identification of catchword association impacts the interpretation of the epistle.
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea 6 Resources
    Hosea 6 Resources Click chart to enlarge Click chart to enlarge Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission Click chart to enlarge OUTLINE OF HOSEA I. The Prodigal Wife, Hosea 1:1-3:5 A. Her Unfaithfulness, Hosea 1:1-11 B. Her Punishment, Hosea 2:1-13 C. Her Restoration and Israel's, Hosea 2:14-23 D. Her Redemption, Hosea 3:1-5 II. The Prodigal People, Hosea 4:1-14:9 A. The Message of Judgment, Hosea 4:1-10:15 1. The indictment, Hosea 4:1-19 2. The verdict, Hosea 5:1-15 3. The plea of Israel, Hosea 6:1-3 4. The reply of the Lord, Hosea 6:4-11 5. The crimes of Israel, Hosea 7:1-16 6. The prophecy of judgment, Hosea 8:1-10:15 B. The Message of Restoration, Hosea 11:1-14:9 1. God's love for the prodigal people, Hosea 11:1-11 2. God's chastisement of the prodigal people, Hosea 11:12-13:16 3. God's restoration of the prodigal people, Hosea 14:1-9 Ryrie Study Bible ALBERT BARNES NOTES Be a Berean - Not Always Literal especially in prophetic passages. Hosea 6 Commentary W J BEECHER The Prophets and the Promise - 433 Page Book BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR Be a Berean - Not Always Literal especially in prophetic passages. Hosea 6 Commentary BRIAN BELL Calvary Chapel Conservative, Literal Interpretation Hosea 5,6 The Moth, The Rot, &The Lion! BIBLE.ORG RESOURCES Resources that Reference Hosea Hosea 6 BRIDGEWAY BIBLE COMMENTARY Hosea 6 JEREMIAH BURROUGHS Hosea - Exposition of the Prophecy of Hosea JOHN CALVIN Commentary on Hosea Note: Calvin's prayers are excellent, and are very convicting - Suggestion: Read them aloud, very slowly and as a sincere prayer to the Almighty God.
    [Show full text]
  • Men in Travail: Masculinity and the Problems of the Body in the Hebrew Prophets
    Men in Travail: Masculinity and the Problems of the Body in the Hebrew Prophets by Cristina Rhiannon Graybill A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Near Eastern Studies and the Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Robert Alter, Chair Professor Daniel Boyarin Professor Chana Kronfeld Professor Celeste Langan Spring 2012 Copyright © 2012 Cristina Rhiannon Graybill, All Rights Reserved. Abstract Men in Travail: Masculinity and the Problems of the Body in the Hebrew Prophets by Cristina Rhiannon Graybill Doctor of Philosophy in Near Eastern Studies with the Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory University of California, Berkeley Professor Robert Alter, Chair This dissertation explores the representation of masculinity and the male body in the Hebrew prophets. Bringing together a close analysis of biblical prophetic texts with contemporary theoretical work on masculinity, embodiment, and prophecy, I argue that the male bodies of the Hebrew prophets subvert the normative representation of masculine embodiment in the biblical text. While the Hebrew Bible establishes a relatively rigid norm of hegemonic masculinity – emphasizing strength, military valor, beauty, and power over others in speech and action – the prophetic figures while clearly male, do not operate under these masculine constraints. Nor does the prophetic body, repeatedly represented as open, wounded, vulnerable, or otherwise non-masculine, conform to the norms of masculine embodiment that are elsewhere strongly enforced in the text. Instead, the prophetic body represents a site of resistance against the demands of hegemonic masculinity and affords the possibility, however, briefly, of alternate, multiple, and open organizations of masculinity not organized around the discipline of the body and the domination of the bodies of others.
    [Show full text]
  • The Book of Hosea: an Amazing Love Story
    THE BOOK OF HOSEA: AN AMAZING LOVE STORY Bro. Bill Yake Arlington, Virginia [email protected] Unless otherwise noted, all verses cited from the English Standard Version (ESV) The Book of Hosea: An Amazing Love Story 1 Class 1: Marriages of Hosea Class 3: Judgment of Israel by God and Yahweh to Unfaithful (Hosea 8-10) Spouses (Hosea 1-3) Class 4: Restoration of Israel to Class 2: Spiritual and Physical God (Hosea 11-14) Adultery of Israel (Hosea 4-7) The Book of Hosea: An Amazing Love Story 2 Class 1: Marriage of Hosea to Gomer and Marriage of Yahweh to Israel (Hosea 1-3) The Book of Hosea: An Amazing Love Story 3 The Book of Hosea: An Amazing Love Story 4 What’s In A Name? ’,Hošēā‘, ‘salvation ,הֹו ֵשׁ ַע .The prophet Hosea (Heb Gr., Ὠσηέ, Ōsēe - see Romans 9:25), whose name is identical with the original name of Joshua (Numbers 13:6), and Hoshea, the last king of Israel (2 Kings 15:30). The names Hosea, Joshua, Hoshea, and Jesus are all from the same Hebrew root word. "Hosea" translates as "salvation" but "Joshua" and "Jesus" carry an additional idea: "Yahweh Is Salvation." The Book of Hosea: An Amazing Love Story 5 The Difficulties of the Book of Hosea “Scarcely any book in the Old Testament is more difficult of exposition than the Book of Hosea….It is his heart that speaks…the sentences fall from him like the sobs of a broken heart.” James Robertson, “Hosea” in James Orr, ed., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1939/1994), Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Sermon for October 4, 2020, Hosea 14:1-3 & 9, “The Paths of the Lord Are
    1 Sermon for October 4, 2020, Hosea 14:1-3 & 9, “The paths of the Lord are true and right” Introduction: Repentance and Healing Last week I preached about the central theme of the book of Hosea, “The unchanging love of God.” Through the relationship between the prophet Hosea and his obscene wife Gomer, Hosea showed the great magnitude of God's love. But the book of Hosea clearly mentions what we need before moving on to “God's unchanging love” and “God's grace”. It is “repentance.” Before healing, there must be repentance. This is like Jesus' Crossing to reach the glory of resurrection. So is today's text. The book of Hosea has a total 14 chapters. Hosea chapter 13 ends with Samaria's destruction. Hosea chapter 13 is a collection of all the punishments that all Israel must face. However, in chapter 14 of the last text of the book of Hosea today, there are all the blessings that the Israelites enjoy. So there is something we should not forget while living our faith. There is healing after repentance. And after obeying the Lord, we have rest in Lord. Today's text, the last chapter of the book of Hosea, contains the blessings God gives us when the Israelites return to God. I hope you will take to heart Hosea's appeal for the Israelites today. Also, I hope you enjoy the rich grace that God gives you in your daily life. Body: Hosea's appeal for Israel 1. Why Israel fell and what to do next Hosea tells us why Israel fell and what the Israelites should do when this happens.
    [Show full text]