GOD IS CONQUERING YOUR HEART HOSEA 5:1-15 Memory Verse: Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Icebreaker: Who knows you better than anyone else in the world? How has this person been able to help you in a way that no one else could? 1. In Hosea 4, God accused Israel of not truly knowing him. Now in Hosea 5, He tells them that He knows them. What does it mean that God knows Israel? In what way is it terrifying to the nation of Israel that God knows them in this way? How often do you consider the fact that God knows you so intimately? How does this reality affect you? Digging Deeper: The doctrine of omniscience teaches us that God not only knows everything about us—He knows everything that happens and will happen in all His creation. Read Psalm 139:1-6 and Proverbs 5:21. How do these passages give you a deeper understanding of God’s omniscience? 2. In Hosea 5:6, God tells Israel that though they seek Him to make offerings, He has withdrawn from them. Why would God withdraw from His people when they want to sacrifice to Him? Why is God’s absence from His people so terrible? Would God withdraw from Christians today? Digging Deeper: In a January sermon titled “Show Us Your Glory”, we learned the importance of God’s presence to His people. How does Israel’s situation in Exodus 33:12-23 compare to the situation in Hosea 5? How could Israel in the days of Hosea be encouraged by considering the way Moses petitioned God? 3. In Hosea 5:12, God describes Himself as a moth and like dry rot. In what ways do you find these descriptions surprising? How does God’s pursuits relate to moth and dry rot? How has God worked in a similar way in your life? 4. Judah and Israel would eventually recognize the coming Assyrian invasion. Rather than turn to God, they tried to find a way out by negotiating with the Assyrian King. Why were their attempts doomed to fail? How does God’s description of Himself as a lion demonstrate how He is exhausting every means to bring His people back to Him? Why do people sometimes avoid considering the severity of God’s wrath or judgment? 5. Hosea 5 ends with a clear explanation of God’s redemptive plan—hinging on the word, “Until”. How would you explain God’s role in Hosea 5:15? How would you explain our part? How does your personal testimony match up to this verse? Digging Deeper: In Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist called for people to “Repent! For the kingdom is at hand.” In Luke 13:3, Jesus taught, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Why is repentance crucial for salvation? Live It: 1. In what ways are you trying to guard against being known? 2. Where are you hiding instead of seeking a relationship with God? 3. Where have you been trying to solve a problem without seeking God’s help? 4. Where are you trying to hide sin, particularly habitual sin? .