Old Testament Vistas

Forever Faithful

An Amazing Picture of

a Forgiving

GodHosea 1-3

Hosea 1:2-3 NETWhen the LORD first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, "Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the LORD." So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him.

Amazing Picture of Forgiving God

Hosea 2:16 ESV And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.'

Powerful Picture of

the Downward Spiral of Sin

Hosea 4-13

Hosea 4:12 NLT

They ask a piece of wood for advice! They think a stick can tell them the future! Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God.

Hosea 2:14-15 NLT

"But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to Me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.

Luxury Speeds the Downward Spiral

Hosea 10:1 NLT How prosperous Israel is—a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.Hosea 13:6 NIV When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

Hosea 4:6 NLT

My people are being destroyed because they don't know Me. Since you priests refuse to know Me, I refuse to recognize you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.

Hosea 4:13 NLT

They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops. They go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees. "That is why your daughters turn to prostitution, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

Contrast the reality with the ideal

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Exodus 20:4-5 NLT "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject Me.

Even in our sin, our husband woos us

Hosea 10:12 NIV Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Eventually we become so thoroughly sinful that we are “useless”

Hosea 8:12 NLT Even though I gave them all My laws, they act as if those laws don't apply to them.Hosea 8:5 NLT "O Samaria, I reject this calf—this idol you have made. My fury burns against you. How long will you be incapable of innocence?

Eventually we become so thoroughly sinful that we are “useless”

Hosea 5:11 ESV Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.Hosea 11:7 ESV My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.

The Bottom to the Spiral

When Forgivene

ss is Impossibl

e

Hosea 5:4 NLT

Your deeds won't let you return to your God. You are a prostitute through and through, and you do not know the LORD.

God withdraws

Hosea 5:6 NLT When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the LORD, they will not find Him, because He has withdrawn from them.Hosea 9:12 NLT Even if you do have children who grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone.

God drives them away into judgment

Hosea 9:15 NLT The LORD says, "All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from My land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels.

Even when judgment is inevitable …

God is still willing to forgive if we will but be

faithful

He wants to hear …Hosea 6:1-3 NIV "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

He wants to forgive …Hosea 11:8-9 NIV "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man— the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

Hosea 14:1-9 NIV

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses.

Hosea 14:1-9 NIV

We will never again say 'Our gods' to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion." "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow.

Hosea 14:1-9 NIV

His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me."

Hosea 14:1-9 NIV

Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Even in the midst of detestable sin,

Our husband calls us to

return

We are the Bride of Christ

2 Corinthians 11:2 NIV

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

Revelation 19:6-9 NIV

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Revelation 19:6-9 NIV

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Are You Caught in

the Downward Spiral of Sin?

Your Faithful

Husband Beckons

You