Hosea - God's Redeeming Love (4:1-7:16) Part 2 Of 4 Series

"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

Hosea - God’s Redeeming Love (4:1-7:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson we began our survey of the book of Hosea...

a. Noting that Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel

b. Whose work began as Amos’ was ending, and prophesied from 750-725

B.C.

2. The key to understanding the book is the analogy illustrated in the

first three chapters...

a. In which Hosea and his wife Gomer illustrates God’s experience

with Israel

b. Which served as an object lesson to express "God’s Redeeming

Love" for His people

3. We therefore saw in the first three chapters...

a. Israel’s rejection symbolized, in the names of Hosea and Gomer’s

children - Hos 1:2-9

b. Israel’s restoration foretold - Hos 1:10-2:1

c. Israel’s unfaithfulness described, depicted as a wife guilty of

harlotry - Hos 2:2-13

d. Israel’s restoration described, cured of her idolatry - Hos 2:

14-23

e. Israel’s restoration symbolized, depicted as a harlot taken back

to be a wife - Hos 3:1-5

4. The rest of the book contains the messages of Hosea, proclaimed with

this analogy in the background; there is...

a. God’s indictment of Israel and her sins - Hos 4:1-7:16

b. God’s warning of punishment that is to befall her - Hos 8:1-10:15

c. God’s promise of a future restoration - Hos 11:1-14:9

[In this lesson, we shall continue our survey of Hosea by noticing

God’s indictment of Israel for her sins, chapters 4-7...]

I. GOD’S INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL (4:1-7:16)

A. THE CHARGE AGAINST ISRAEL (4:1-5:15)

1. Against the nation as a whole - Hos 4:1-3

a. For no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God is in the land

b. All forms of wickedness are rampant

2. Against the priests in particular - Hos 4:4-14

a. It does no good to contend with the people, for people do

not respect their priests

b. The priests themselves have rejected knowledge, which is to

their destruction

c. The priests feed off the sins of the people, increasing

their own spiritual adultery

3. A word of warning to Judah in the south - Hos 4:15-19

a. Judah, don’t be like Israel!

b. Judah, leave Ephraim (Israel) to her idols!

4. Against the priests, rulers, and people - Hos 5:1-7

a. They have been a snare, not a help

b. Their idolatry has led Israel to stumble, even Judah as

well

d. God has withdrawn Himself from them

5. The impending sentence - Hos 5:8-15

a. Ephraim (Israel) shall be laid waste, and Judah shall not

escape either

b. Like a lion, God will come upon them and tear them away

c. This God will do until they confess their sin and

diligently seek Him

B. THEIR APPEAL REJECTED (6:1-7:16)

1. The call to repentance - Hos 6:1-3

a. Some believe these three verses are Hosea’s desperate plea

to Israel to repent

b. Others think that these are the words of Israel, but was

not sincere

-- In either case, verse four reveals the shallowness of

Israel’s faithfulness

2. Rejected because of Israel’s true condition - Hos 6:4-7:16

a. Faithfulness was only temporary, like the morning cloud or

early dew

b. They offered sacrifices, but did not show mercy or truly

know God

c. They transgressed the covenant, and became defiled, even

influencing Judah

d. When God would have healed them, their iniquity was even

worse

e. Idolatry, alliances with pagan nations, rejection of God’s

efforts to discipline them...all these things were the

charges brought against Israel!

[Like a Judge in court God has brought His charges against unfaithful

Israel. Like an unfaithful spouse who committed adultery, so Israel

has done to God! Our next study will consider God’s warning of the

punishment to befall Israel, but before we finish this lesson let’s

review..]

II. SOME KEY PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION

A. "MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE"

1. Notice Hos 4:1,6

2. This verse, like many others in the Bible, emphasizes the

importance of knowing the Word of God - cf. Jm 1:21

-- How is your knowledge of God’s Word?

B. "EPHRAIM IS JOINED TO IDOLS, LET HIM ALONE"

1. Consider Hos 4:17

2. The context is that of warning Judah to stay away from Israel

3. There often comes a time when efforts to restore the erring

are futile; rather than risk being influenced adversely,

withdrawal of association is necessary - cf. 1Co 5:11-13

C. "YOUR FAITHFULNESS IS LIKE A MORNING CLOUD..."

1. Read Hos 6:4

2. Many people are quick to profess repentance, but do remain

true to the Lord; how faithful to the Lord are we?

D. "FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE..."

1. This passage (Hos 6:6) was often quoted by Jesus - Mt 9:13;

12:7

2. It reflects what was said in the Proverbs - Pr 21:3