Written by David Self Monday, 24 December :00 - Last Updated Wednesday, 19 December :47

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview December 30, 2012 Remembering Compassion Background: Hosea 11:1 12:14 Lesson: Hosea 11:1-11 Motivation: After severe pronouncements of judgment in the previous chapter, God s entreaties of love almost take us by surprise. But that isn t always the case? God s love is steadfast and never-failing (Lam. 3:22-23). Examination: I. Kindness Met with Unfaithfulness (11:1-7) A. Gods early love for Israel (1-4) 1. Love s Inspiration When Israel was a child, I loved him (1) God always reaches out in love. In summing up the nature of God in one word, John wrote: God is Love (I John 4:8). Paul reminds us, But God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8) Early on, when Israel was a child, God began the relationship in love. 2. Love s Initiative and out of Egypt, I called My son (1) To God, love is an action word (John 3:16). As Bro. John titled his book, Love Is Something You Do, God s great redeeming act for Israel was calling them from slavery in Egypt to sonship in 1 / 7

2 Canaan. His great redeeming act for us was through His Son Jesus (Matt. 2:15; Heb. 3:1-6). 3. Love s Insubordination The more they called them, the more they departed from Me (2, NIV) Hosea s theme might be entitled: Love in Spite of Jesus said, But I say to you, love your enemies (Matt. 5:44) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Matt. 5:46). God loved but Israel rebelled. His love and glory, in spite of their rebellion, is magnified. 4. Love s Instruction It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in my arms (3) God is not distant and uncaring; He is personally involved with those He loves! The tender metaphor of a parent teaching a toddler to walk continues the theme of God s love from childhood. God s love doesn t end with His call; He continues to train and instruct us in Godly living. (2 Tim. 3:17) 5. Love s Insistence I led them with human cords, with ropes of love (4) God does not impose His will upon us; rather, He gently knocks at our heart s door (Rev. 3:20). Napoleon is reported to have said, Charlemagne, Alexander the Great, and other generals have built us empires, and they built them on force, but Jesus Christ today has millions of people who would die for Him, and He built an empire on love. 6. Love s Incentive To them I was like one who eases the yoke from their jaws. I bent down to give them food (4) Changing the metaphor, Hosea pictures God as the caring farmer who, after requiring work from the ox, relieves it of its burden and cares for its needs. (Matt. 11:30). We can respond to God s love with the confidence that He always has our good in mind. Where He leads us, He will sustain us. (Ps. 37:4, 25; Prov. 3:5-6) B. Israel s Deserved Punishment (11:5-7) 1. Stubbornness because they refused to repent (5) In spite of the clear prophetic warnings, Israel stubbornly resisted God s love. Jesus said, 2 / 7

3 But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3) 2. Pride Because of their schemes (6) The root of sin is pride. (Is. 14:14) We know what God says to do; but, we feel we have a better plan. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (I Pet. 5:5) (Prov. 16:25; Matt. 23:12; Jas. 4:10) 3. Backsliding My people are bent on turning from Me (7) The word picture is of a stubborn ox willfully turning away from his owner. The foolishness of such a course is in light of the gracious plans the owner has for the ox (4) (John 6:37; 10:28). II. Anger Overcome by Compassion (11:8-11) A. God s Relentless Love (11:8-9) 1. Justice How can I make you like Admah like Zeboiim (8) The chapter began by picturing Israel as a loved child (1) lovingly guide & to take the first steps (3). However, the child became unrepentantly rebellious (5). The law s solution for a son s rebellion was death by stoning (Deut. 21:18-21). God s love compelled Him to reject the harsh measures that had been applied to Sodom and Gomorrah s sister cities, Admah and Zeboiim (Gen. 10:19; 19:24; Deut. 29:23). He would not annihilate His people, but would preserve a remnant. 2. Mercy My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. (8b-9a) Although Israel deserved destruction, God would not give them what they deserved. 3. Grace For I am God, and not man (9b) (Is. 46:9-10). If justice is getting what you deserve, and mercy is not getting it, then grace is getting something you don t deserve. 3 / 7

4 B. Israel s Ultimate Response (11:10-11) 1. Protection They will follow the Lord. He will roar like a lion. (10a) (Gen. 5:24; Ps. 23:4) Although the people would go out captive in judgment, God would reassemble them in His grace. Earlier, God was pictured as a preying lion, tearing the nation (5:14; 6:1). Now, the picture changes to a protective lion, carefully guarding the homecoming of His people. 2. Direction When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west (10b) Since Assyria and Babylon were to the East, this prophecy goes beyond the homecoming in Ezra and Nehemiah s day. Jesus predicted And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations (Luke 21:24) The homecoming prophesied here began in 1948 and will be completely fulfilled in God s glorious millennial kingdom. (Amos 9:11-15) 3. Reflection They will be roused like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria (11) Proud, unrepentant and backslidden, Israel was characterized as a silly dove without sense. (7:11) Having been instructed by God s judgment, they are now pictured taking flight like a group of startled birds. 4. Connection Then I will settle them in their homes. This is the Lord s declaration (11b) God in His mercy would fulfill His covenant promises and bring Israel back to the land to dwell permanently (2:23; Ps. 23:6). III. Judgment Resulting from Arrogance (11:12 12:14) The ministry of God s Word is summed up in 2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. In this passage we have an example of God s prophet using God s Word for all of these: A. Doctrine: Judah still wanders with God and is faithful to the holy ones. 4 / 7

5 (11:12) A teacher of the Word of God has the responsibility to uphold truth. The world will not do it; nor will Hollywood, the media, or conventional wisdom. Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit (11:12a) Recognizing what is truth and what is a lie is an important part of spiritual leadership. (Jesus = truth; Satan = lie) B. Reproof: The Lord also has a dispute with Judah (12:2) Israel was reproved for a lack of knowledge (4:6), idol worship (4:12), sexual sin (4:14), pride (5:5), disobedience (5:11), covenant transgression (6:7), drunkenness (7:5), false kings (8:4), rejecting God s prophet (9:7), deceit ( 11:12-12:1), treaties with foreign nations (12:1), and dishonesty (12:7). Now Judah is given a history lesson of reproof as well (12:2-5). The difference between Judah and Israel is that the Southern Kingdom, personified by Jacob, wept and sought His favor. (12:4) C. Correction: But you must return to your God (6) The judgment of does not have to be shared by every inhabitant. God, in His mercy, is calling individual Israelites to repentance. (Isa. 66:8; Rom. 11:26) D. Instruction in Righteousness: I spoke through the prophets (10) 1. It s the Word of God I spoke. Whether by prophecy or by teaching, God s Word must not be confused with man s opinion. (John 17:17) 2. He uses us through the prophets : Often we ll say As Hosea wrote or Isaiah said ; however, God used these men to communicate His Word. (Luke 1:70, 24:27, 2 Peter 3:2). As teachers, we are used today to share God s Word-what an awesome responsibility! (James 3:1; Luke 12:48) Application: 5 / 7

6 1. God loves us In spite of 2. Pride and stubbornness are the roots of sin s harvest. 3. Instead of justice or mercy, God acts toward us in grace. Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 7: Poster: Lesson Outline; Item 8: Handout: Remembering Compassion Biblical Illustrator: p. 43, City Walls & Fortifications Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g Dates 2012: 12/23 Christmas Weekend, no LBS; 12/24 Candlelight 4:00 & 6:00; 12/24-25 Christmas Holidays, church offices closed; 12/30 Normal schedule with LBS; 12/31 Summit NYE party. Dates 2013: 1/1 Church Offices closed; 1/6 Missions Expo begins; 1/11 Summit Celebrates; 1/15 3/5 LivingProof Bible Study Tues; 1/16 5/8 Midlink, Spring Break 3/13; 1/18-19 As We Go Weekend; 1/20 6 / 7

7 Summit Dodgeball Tourney; 1/20 Parent Commitment; 1/20 AMP/Wired; 1/25 Midnight Madness; 1/27 Fitness Expo; 1/27 Mission 1:8 begins; 1/27 FBA Day at HFBC; 1/28 Missions Expo ends. 7 / 7