I Will Love Them FreelyHosea

Hosea 1:1

The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Hosea 1:2-3

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD." 3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

2:6 “Therefore…I will hedge up her way with thorns…”

2:9 “Therefore…I will take back my grain … and my wine …”

2:14 “Therefore…I will allure her … and speak tenderly to her.”

God’s “emotions” in Hosea

2:14 “I will allure her … and speak tenderly to her.”

4:12 “My people inquire of a piece of wood.”

6:4 “What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?”

11:8 “How can I give you up?”

14:8 “What have I to do with idols?”

God describes his people (Ephraim / Judah):

• morning cloud – empty (6:4)• cake not turned – raw dough (7:8)• dove – silly, wandering (7:11)• stricken plant – dried up (9:16)• trained calf – now yoked (10:11)

Key Theme in Hosea – Knowing God

Hosea 2:20

“I will betroth you to me in faithfulness.And you shall know the LORD.”

Hosea 5:4

“Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them,and they know not the LORD.”

Hosea 6:3

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;his going out is sure as the dawn;he will come to us as the showers,as the spring rains that water the earth."

Key Theme in Hosea – Knowing God

Hosea 6:6

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Hosea 8:2

“To me they cry, "My God, we-- Israel-- know you."

Hosea 11:3

“Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;I took them up by their arms,but they did not know that I healed them.”

Key Theme in Hosea – Knowing God

Hosea 13:4-5“But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt;you know no God but me,and besides me there is no savior.It was I who knew you in the wilderness,in the land of drought.”

SIN – (rebellion) – JUDGMENT – (mercy) – SALVATION

“Hosea” means “salvation”

“It is the prevailing goodness of God

that entices us to repentance

and the prevailing goodness of God

that holds us there.”

Dr. Robert Vasholz, professor emeritus of OT at Covenant Theological Seminary.http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/april/atonement-in-hoseas-love-for-gomer.html

PANELS/PERICOPES JUDGMENT SALVATION

#1 Hosea 1:2-9 Hosea 1:10 – 2:1

#2 Hosea 2:2-13 Hosea 2:14—3:59

#3 Hosea 4:1—5:15a Hosea 5:15b—6:3

#4 Hosea 6:4—11:7 Hosea 1:2-9

#5 Hosea 1:2-9 Hosea 1:2-9

Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.; Interpreting the Minor Prophets (1990), p. 22.

How does Hosea point to Jesus, the Christ?

Hosea 3:5

“Afterward, the children of Israel will returnand seek the Lord their God, and David their king,

and they shall come in fear to the Lordand to his goodness in the latter days...”

Hosea 1:7

“But I will have mercy on the house of Judah,and I will save them by the LORD their God.

I will not save them by bow or by swordor by war or by horses or by horsemen."

How does Hosea point to Jesus, the Christ?

Hosea 13:7-8

“So I am to them like a lion…”

Hosea 11:1

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,And out of Egypt I called my son.”

God Demonstrates his Love via …

DISCIPLINE OF THOSE HE LOVES.

MERCY TOWARD THOSE HE LOVES.

PROVISION FOR THOSE HE LOVES.

SACRIFICE FOR THOSE HE LOVES.

Jesus came

to confirm

and to demonstrate

God’s love.

Hosea 14:1-9Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,

for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.2 Take with you words and return to the Lord;say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good,

and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses;and we will say no more,‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands.In you the orphan finds mercy.”

Hosea 14:1-94 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely,

for my anger has turned from them.5 I will be like the dew to Israel;he shall blossom like the lily;

he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;6 his shoots shall spread out;his beauty shall be like the olive,

and his fragrance like Lebanon.7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;

they shall flourish like the grain;they shall blossom like the vine;

their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:1-98 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you.I am like an evergreen cypress;

from me comes your fruit.

9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;whoever is discerning, let him know them;

for the ways of the Lord are right,and the upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them.