After the story of Hosea’s wife, the remaining portion of Hosea’s prophecy is an extended charge against Israel for failing the covenant, God’s just judgment against them, and God’s promise of restoration through His faithful love.
Sermon OutlinE
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
God’s Faithful Love for His People (Hosea 2:19-20)
God’s Case Against His People (Hosea 4:1ff.)
God’s Desire for His People (Hosea 6:4, 6)
God’s Encouragement to His People (Hosea 10:12)
God’s Calling for His People (Hosea 12:6)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you experienced real forgiveness in your life? What happened and how did that impact you?
- As we continue our series, “God in the Ruins: The Message of the Minor Prophets,” this weekend we turn to the second section of Hosea, chapters 4-14. Because this is a very large section of Scripture, we will look at excerpts from it. Before you begin this study, ask God to speak to you through the Scripture.
- Hosea, chapter 4, serves as a good summary passage of the case God has against His people that we encounter throughout chapters 4-14. Read chapter 4 aloud. What are some of the issues that God has against His God’s people according to verses 1-2?
- While the prophets and priests should be a good influence on the people, verses 4-9 show us this is not the case. What would you say are the major problems of these religious figures were and what did God say about it?
- Read Hosea 6:4-6 aloud. Giving attention to verse 6, what would you say that God particularly desires from His people?
- Reflect on your own life or the life of your local fellowship of believers. How does either stand up in relation to God’s desire for His people in Hosea 6:6?
- Now let’s jump ahead to Hosea 11:1-11, a moving passage about God’s love for His people. Read that passage aloud. What does Israel do in these verses that reflects their straying from God?
- What words would you use to describe the character or attributes of God based on Hosea 11?
- What are one or two phrases or verses that stand out to you personally about God’s love from Hosea 11? Why do they stand out to you?
- Read Hosea 14:1-9 aloud to close out our study. The word for “return” in Hebrew is shub which is often connected with repentance. What does repentance look like ,)בּ ׁוש( according to Hosea 14?
- What does God promise to do when His people return/repent according to verses 4-8?
- When has repentance brought healing in your life? Is there an area in your life now that requires repentance for life to spring up? What would it look like to act on that right now?
- How would you summarize the message of the prophet Hosea in your own words?
- What is one thing that God is speaking into your life through this study of Hosea? If you are on your own, write these things down. If you are in a small group, discuss your answers aloud together. Close in prayer. Choose one person in your life with whom you will share something you have learned about God through the story of Hosea.