Hosea

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Hosea

• 41 - 515
• Gods Charge Against Israel

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Review

• Hosea prophesied to Israel shortly before its
  captivity
• God illustrated His reasons for punishing Israel
  through Hoseas family
• Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea
• As Israel had been unfaithful to God
• Two of Hoseas children were not his own
• As God no longer considered the Israelites to be
  His people
• But Hosea was willing to take Gomer back with
  certain conditions
• As God had prepared a plan for bringing the
  Israelites back to Him in His church

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Introduction

• With the background of Hoseas family, Hosea now
  turns to the message from God
• The message is the same as was illustrated
• Just more details given
• Chapters 4-7 God indicts Israel for her sins
• Chapter 8-10 God warns Israel of her punishment
• Chapters 11-14 God promises a brighter future
  in the church
• We will begin with chapters 4-5 Gods charge
  against Israel

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The nature of the charge

• Hos 41-3
• God has a charge (a legal case) against Israel
• The charge is against the nation
• The nation, as a whole, had entered a covenant
  with God
• The charge is no truth, no mercy, and no
  knowledge of God
• All were things required in the covenant
• Some specifics of the charge
• Swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery
• The nation as a whole will have to be punished

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Dont bother arguing

• Hos 44-10
• No need to argue about the charge or blame others
• All had a share in the guilt
• Either they had committed the sins or did nothing
  to stop others
• The people had rejected knowledge of God
• They didnt want to know what God said was right
  or wrong
• Therefore God didnt want them to be His priest
• Ex 195-6
• They will get exactly what they deserved

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Questions for Thought

• What charges would God bring against us?
• Are we living up to our covenant with God?
• Do we keep the commandments? (1 John 52)
• Do we spread the gospel to the lost? (Mt
  2819-20)
• Do we grow in grace and knowledge? (2 Pet 318)
• Are we equipping ourselves for service? (Eph
  411-16)
• Would God say we have destroyed ourselves by lack
  of knowledge?
• Would God reject us as fit priests? (1 Pet 29)

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Spiritual and Moral Harlots

• Hos 411-14
• God now adds the charge of harlotry
• Spiritual harlotry going after idols
• Physical harlotry sleeping with those they
  werent married to
• God says it is impossible to punish just a few
• The whole nation was involved in one or both
  kinds of harlotry
• Or at least did nothing to stop it

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A warning to Judah

• Hos 415-19
• Even though Hosea prophesied to Israel, he gives
  a word of warning to Judah
• Dont do like Israel!
• Dont join in her idolatry
• Israel is stubborn
• Has refused to listen to Gods prophets
• Now just let her go her own way and suffer the
  consequences
• Dont get too close or youll get pulled into her
  sins

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The snare of Israel

• Hos 51-7
• Heres why its dangerous to be around Israel
• They have become a snare, a trap
• Israel had committed sin, and God knew what they
  were doing
• But now Judah has gotten involved in Israels sin
• Judah was going to stumble as well

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More thought questions

• Have we been faithful to God?
• Religiously? Morally?
• Or have we failed to warn those who were guilty?
  (Rom 128-26)
• Have you considered that getting too close to
  those who are sinning is dangerous?
• We need to be close enough to teach and show a
  good example
• But we must remain separate (2 Cor 614-18)
• Sometimes we must realize some have rejected
  truth and move on (Matt 76)

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The sentence

• Hos 58-15
• Israel will become a wasteland
• So take warning NOW!
• Specifically Israel will go to Assyria (captives)
• Even that wont cure Israel of its sins
• Judah will not escape punishment
• Though not quite as severe (young lion v. lion)
• They will be torn (though not a wasteland)
• And God will leave them alone until they realize
  their sins and repent and diligently seek God

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Conclusion

• Christ is coming to judge the world
• 2 Cor 510
• Will He find us to have been faithful?
• Or will He find us to have been unfaithful?
• He will reward or punish as our deeds deserve
• What will our sentence be?

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