[HOS:11:1-12]; [HOS:14:1-9].
Lesson 331 - Junior
Memory Verse
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18).
Notes
A Minor Prophet
Hosea, son of Beeri, had a message for the Children of Israel. He was a prophet of the Lord at the time when Isaiah, Amos, and Micah also prophesied. Although Hosea is known as a prophet of the northern kingdom, all the Children of Israel were included in his message. Hosea prophesied about 60 years. During those years Jeroboam, son of Joash (sometimes called Jehoash), reigned in Israel; while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah.A Prophet's Work
There was a need for prophets. It was necessary to have some men who were called by God to deliver His message to the people. God could trust the prophets to say the words that He wanted given to the Children of Israel. The prophets warned them of the judgements of God. They reproved them of their sins, and pointed out their idolatrous ways. They also told them of the Lord's promises of blessing when they returned to serve God. This was the work of a prophet. Hosea was faithful to God as well as faithful to the Children of Israel.Evil Ways
As we consider the Children of Israel and their kings during Hosea's time, we see how faithful God and His prophets were to warn them. Jeroboam, king of Israel, did evil in the sight of the Lord by not departing from all the sins of the other Jeroboam who made Israel to sin [2KG:14:24]). At that time the affliction of Israel was "very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel" [2KG:14:26]). God had promised that Israel's name would not be completely blotted out, so He used Jeroboam to spare the Israelites from their enemies.Leprosy
Uzziah is remembered as the king who was smitten with leprosy when he went into the Temple to burn incense. By so doing he transgressed against God. To burn incense in the Temple was the work and privilege of the priest only. Uzziah had been helped marvellously by the Lord, but when he was strong his heart was lifted up [2CH:26:15-16]). Uzziah's leprosy caused him to be separated from the good things in his life " his family and home, his work and his kingdom, and even his religion, because "he was cut off from the house of the LORD." Sin, like Uzziah's leprosy, has caused the same separations from every good thing in the lives of many people. Uzziah was not dealt with unjustly. He must have heard the words God sent by Hosea, yet he did not repent.Wickedness
When Uzziah was smitten with leprosy, his son, Jotham, became king. He "became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God" [2CH:27:6]). Jotham did that which was right in God's eyes but the people did "corruptly" [2CH:27:2]). This must have been the people's choice. Hosea was faithful to point out their sin and the punishment that went with sin. Ahaz reigned in Judah after Jotham. His reign was wicked, cruel, and idolatrous [2KG:16:3-4]). "In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD" [2CH:28:22]). Ahaz damaged the house of the Lord, shut its doors, and made altars in every corner of Jerusalem [2CH:28:24]). After Ahaz's death, Hezekiah was king of Judah. He was the man who was told to set his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed. God healed him, and added 15 years to his life. He had trusted God and had not departed from following Him: "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up" [2CH:32:25]).Hosea's Message
What was Hosea's message to these kings and to their people? It was a message to show them their need of repentance. To repent is to turn from one's sins. When one repents he has a sorrow and a regret for his past; he has a desire to change for the better; he asks forgiveness and is willing to make right those things in his life, which are against God and his fellow man. This was Hosea's message to the people whose lives were filled with sin. He told them of their need to return and to serve God. He reminded them of the great things that God had done for them -" even from the time that the Children of Israel were brought out of Egypt. Hosea pointed out that which was wrong in their lives.As a Child
In giving the message of the Lord, Hosea compared Israel to a child with God as his Father. As a father teaches a child to walk by holding to his hands, so God taught Israel "to go." The Children of Israel had depended on God to help them, to support them, and to teach them. In the land of Egypt, the Children of Israel were slaves, working for Pharaoh. The Lord removed them from that bondage. He lifted their burden and supplied them with food. As one would loosen the yoke straps under the oxen's jaws so they could eat, the Lord had removed Israel's burden and provided food. The Lord sent manna for the Children of Israel to eat [EXO:16:15]). But they remembered the fish, cucumbers, leeks, melons, onion, and garlic that they had eaten in Egypt. They complained against God who was sending them food, until they had to be punished for their murmuring. (See Lesson 99.)Bands of Love
The Lord drew the Children of Israel unto Himself with love. He did not use means of force as those who are used to drive or pull animals into place. God used means that good men use to persuade others. He did not compel them to serve Him. God loved the Children of Israel. God would draw all people to Him because He loves them. It was God's love for us that caused Him to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to be a Sacrifice on the Cross that we might be saved. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [JHN:3:16]).Your Choice
God gives each person the call to follow Him. Each one must choose whom he will serve. God does not force anyone to serve Him. Sometimes people feel that they must do certain things to please others because they have a great fear. They serve others because of a "band" of fear. God's people follow Him because of His love. If the choice were left to God, all people would be Christians. God did His part when He made a way of salvation. Each person must make a choice between serving God or serving Satan. One has no other choice. A person either loves God enough to follow Him, or he loves Satan. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" [MAT:6:24]).Their Own Way
Hosea told the people that they had wanted their own way. God had done much for them and had shown them much love. Yet they were "bent to backsliding." The Israelites would follow God for a while. Then they wanted their own way. There is danger in wanting one's own way, because "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" [PRO:16:25]). God's prophets urged the people to return to God, to exalt and to worship Him. This was the very thing that Hosea was doing. Yet the Israelites turned aside to their own ways. God's love was so great that He said to the Israelites, "How shall I give thee up?" His heart was grieved because of their backslidings. But God was merciful and long-suffering. He said, "I will not return to destroy Ephraim [Israel]: for I am God, and not man." God's ways are not like man's ways. Some people, in their anger, would have withdrawn and never given them another time to repent.Lies and Deceit
The Israelites had spoken lies and deceit by making vows to God that they did not pay. They had made promises to God, which they did not keep. At times, during the history of the Israelites, they returned to God and promised to obey Him. For example, when Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD," the people wanted to do that, too. They knew that God had brought them out of Egypt and they wanted to serve Him. They said, "The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey" [JOS:24:15], [JOS:24:24]). After the death of Joshua, they forsook God and served idols. Time and again the Israelites did this. This is true not only of the Israelites; some people today do not keep their promises to God. When they prayed for salvation they promised to serve God, but they are not doing it now. Often when people are sick they make promises to God, but they are not doing it now. Often when people are sick they make promises to God, but some seem to forget about the vows and promises when God heals them and they are well. In time of trouble and danger some people have made promises to God, which they are not keeping. Are these things not lies and deceit? David said: "I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble" [PS:66:13-14]).Prayer
Hosea brought these things to their attention to show that they needed to repent. They had not been thankful for all that God had done for them. When one counts his blessings he feels that he owes the Lord so much praise that he must serve and worship God. Do we give thanks to God for what He has done for us? Or are we ungrateful and unmindful of His blessings to us? Hosea not only showed them their need of salvation but he also told them how to get it. He told them what to say, and advised them to take words to the Lord " to talk to the Lord and give Him consecrations. That is praying. Instead of taking animals to sacrifice, they were to take the "calves" of their lips, which were praises and promises to God. Hosea told them to say, "Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses." This meant that they were willing to trust God rather than to depend on men, as they were doing. They were to acknowledge God instead of considering the work of their own hands to be gods. The Lord expects all who are saved to trust in Him, and to acknowledge Him as the only true and living God.Promises
God promises mercy to those who truly repent -" who confess their sins and forsake them [PRO:28:13]). The Lord is near those who are sorry for their sins, and He saves those who have a contrite spirit [PS:34:18]). Besides mercy, other blessings are promised to those who repent and follow God. Hosea said that God would be to Israel as the dew. We are told that in the East the dew is very heavy, supplying moisture to the land. In other places there is a great deal of rainfall, but in the land where Israel lived the dew was life-giving water. In a spiritual way, God promised to send the water, which will keep the soul revived and growing. Can you find some of the verses of Scripture, which tell about the Water of Life?A Plant
Hosea compared a person who receives the "dew" to a plant. "He shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon." Growth as a lily -" one root often produces many bulbs! Roots as Lebanon -" the cedars of Lebanon send their roots as deep as the trees are tall! "His beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon." Beauty as the olive -" the tree is always green, showing life and yielding fruit! Smell as Lebanon -" the fragrance of flowers and trees were given as a sweet savour! One plant could not be found to describe God's people. The fine qualities of several plants were combined to tell about them -" growth of the lily, deep roots of the cedar, the fruit and beauty of the olive. "They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine." Jesus gave similar illustrations to His disciples. Read what Jesus taught about "a corn of wheat" which falls into the ground and dies [JHN:12:24]). Jesus also told His disciples about the vine growing and bearing fruit [JHN:15:1-7]).Just or Unjust
With all these promises, and more, there is no reason why any person should not follow the Lord. Each one could say with Ephraim, "What have I to do any more with idols?" or in his own words, "Why should I continue in sin?" The Book of Hosea closes with the thought that there are only two kinds of people: the just and the unjust; those who follow the Lord and those who walk in their own ways. As there are wonderful promises to the obedient, so there are fearful promises to the disobedient. Which kind of person are you? "The ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."