[HOS:11:1-12]; [HOS:14:1-9].
Lesson 331 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein" (Hosea 14:9).
Cross References
I God's Reminder of Israel's deliverance Out of Egypt
1. God's love brought the Israelites out of bondage, [HOS:11:1]. 2. Israel departed to the worship of Baal, [HOS:11:2]; [1KG:18:18], [1KG:18:21]. 3. They were tenderly trained in the early years of their history, [HOS:11:3-4]; [DEU:32:9-12]; [DEU:1:31].II God's Reminder of Israel's Approaching Captivity
1. The Assyrian would be their king if they returned not to the Lord, [HOS:11:5]; [2KG:17:22-23]. 2. The sword would be upon them because of their backslidings, [HOS:11:6-7]. 3. God's tender compassion, even to backslidden Israel, is illustrated, [HOS:11:8]; [PS:103:13-14]. 4. In spite of the fierceness of His anger, God dealt mercifully with Israel, [HOS:11:9]; [PS:103:8-9]. 5. His promise of their eventual return is repeated, [HOS:11:10];[HOS:11:11]; [DEU:30:4-5]. 6. The difference between Israel and Judah at that time is shown, [HOS:11:12].III God's Call to Repentance
1. God tenderly and earnestly pled with Israel, [HOS:14:1-2]; [MAT:23:37]. 2. Sincere confession was expected of Israel, [HOS:14:3]; [PRO:28:13]. 3. Israel's restoration was conditioned on their repentance, [HOS:14:4-8]. 4. The wisdom of heartfelt repentance is shown, [HOS:14:9].Notes
Hosea, the Prophet
Hosea the prophet was contemporary with Isaiah, the great prophet who wrote so much about the Messianic Kingdom. Hosea's prophecies were directed mostly to the kingdom of Israel, and Isaiah's were to the kingdom of Judah. Hosea is often called the weeping prophet to Israel; Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet to Judah. Hosea uses some of the most colourful statements that can be found in literature. Abrupt in his denunciation of the sins of Israel, he is equally as tender and appealing in his exhortation to repentance. He was gifted with a great force of expression and some of his passages are truly sublime. The ten tribes of Israel were sometimes called by the endearing name of Ephraim, and Hosea seemed to use that name often when referring to them.Out of Bondage
As the love of a parent for a child, was God's love for Israel. He loved Israel with such love and compassion that He brought them out of Egyptian bondage. That first love that sweeps into the soul of a repentant sinner, when he is redeemed from the hand of the enemy, is a little portion of the same love that God has for His children, and that He showed toward Israel. God loved Israel and called them out of bondage. He loves the sinner and calls him to repentance. Just as truly as Israel served under hard task-masters in Egypt, the sinner serves under a hard task-master -" the devil. Only God can break the bondage of sin and set the sinner free. One night God led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, out from under the awful tyranny of Pharaoh. In a moment of time, Jesus can break the powers of Satan over a human life and set that person free from every evil habit that has him bound. It is the compassionate love of a merciful God that takes a sinner, condemned and unclean, and bestows upon him such tender love and affection as to call him His son. "Out of Egypt have I called my son" was literally true in Israel as well as being prophetically true -" and completely fulfilled -" in Christ.Taught to Walk
Jacob went down into Egypt for the preservation of his life and the lives of his family. Jesus was carried into Egypt for the preservation of His life from King Herod. But the Lord did not leave Israel or Christ there in the land of bondage. He called them out! Not only did the Lord bring Israel out of Egypt but He made use of every means to teach them to walk in the right and only safe way. The Holy Spirit is in the world today calling souls out of darkness into the light of the Gospel. God warned Israel of the many dangers and pitfalls, and guided them with His eye through untrodden places. He laid meat before them when they hungered. He fed them with manna -" angel's food -" but then Ephraim "waxed fat, and kicked."Backsliding
The Prophet Hosea was continually remonstrating with Israel because of their backslidings. He used such phrases as, "Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer"; "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone"; "They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." These things tell very clearly Israel's spiritual condition. Despite all the blessings the Lord had bestowed upon them, they were bent to backsliding. From the time that Aaron made the golden calf until the Israelites were finally taken as captives into Assyria and Babylon, there was a continual round of backsliding and repenting and backsliding again. When they prospered, their hearts became vain and lifted up. Then the Lord would let their enemies overwhelm them, and in their distress they would cry unto the Lord. God's mercies would be extended to them as they cried to Him, and then His blessings would follow. Thus, Israel is pictured as an adulterous wife, a people who forsook the true and living God and worshiped idols. The Bible states: "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" ([1JN:2:15]).An Exhortation to Repentance
"O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou has fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously." These are the pleadings of the Lord to a rebellious nation. These same pleadings are extended today in a personal sense to every wayward soul. One may have been tripped by the enemy, but the Lord says to him, "Return unto me, and I will return unto you." "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" [ISA:1:18]). Jesus extended the invitation in these words" "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" [JHN:6:37]). Though God's judgements are pronounced against those who continue in sin, yet at the same time His arms of mercy are extended to those who will repent. In this lesson God is saying to Israel, "Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously." Deeply implore God to take away all your sins! You are lost, helpless, desolate, and perishing without Him! The Children of Israel would not "frame their doings" to turn unto God. Not only did they desire to walk contrary to God's way, but they were proud of their evil-doings. God said, through the Prophet Isaiah, "Cease to do evil; learn to do well." God sees the heart of the one who in honesty and true purpose determines to turn from sin, and He comes to the help of that one.The Yearnings of God for His People
"How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?" These words were spoken form the yearning heart of a tender, compassionate, and merciful God. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" [MAT:23:37]). It is Deity Himself pleading with men, bleeding for them, and opening His gracious arms of love to receive them back to Himself. Matchless love! How could they resist the wooings of such a Spirit? "Only acknowledge thine iniquity" [JER:3:13]). Have you made an idol of your own ways, your own thoughts? Have they prevented you from finding God's way? A person needs only to acknowledge that his way of life, whether it be in the vilest of sin or only in blindness and hardness of heart, has not brought the peace and assurance that he is longing for, and to ask God to show him His way. He finds God's way when he reads the Bible and listens to the preaching of the Bible with an open heart and an unprejudiced mind. God will show him His way of love, joy, peace, and gentleness; and as man's heart breaks before God, because of his own contrary ways, and he asks divine forgiveness, God will come to dwell with him. "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" [ISA:57:15]). (See also [PS:34:18].)Penitent Ephraim
Hosea pictured what Ephraim would answer when his stubborn and rebellious heart was broken. Ephraim will say, "What have I to do any more with idols?" at last he has yielded! He falls a penitent soul at the foot of the Cross! Hosea saw, through the eye of prophecy, the latter days when Israel would no longer worship idols. He foresaw the glorious time when the nation will be through with sin. God will be their God forever and they will be His people. They will render unto Him the "calves" of their lips, for the sacrifice of animals will no longer be offered. They will have found the Perfect Sacrifice -" the Christ they once rejected. They will offer "the sacrifice of praise to God continually, . . . giving thanks to his name [HEB:13:15]).God's Boundless Love
Hear the answer of a loving, merciful God. "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon." What a beautiful picture! Every person has the privilege of being like that. What a blessed life for a person to live, when he can blossom as the lily and the fragrance from his everyday walk will be as ointment poured forth. Hosea reproved, rebuked, and exhorted unstable Israel, and closed his sublime prophecy with these lofty words: "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."