Hosea 11

Week 7, Wednesday: God’s love for Israel
Though He must judge Israel, this does not mean that God has forsaken love for them. He has not. He could completely destroy the nation, but He indicates that this is not His plan. Though His anger against them will be fierce, He cannot deny His covenant and promises. Israel will be restored.

Read Hosea 11

Meditate on Hosea 11.8, 9
1.  How can you see the depths of God’s love for His sinful people in these verses? What is He seeking from them?

2.  Paul says the goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom. 2.4). Israel had failed to keep in mind that all their blessings were from the Lord. How should the love and goodness of God affect us day by day?

3.  God promises not to destroy Israel utterly. He is God, and not a man. What does this mean? What does it suggest to us about where we should seek counsel and instruction?

4.  Even in the midst of judgment, God was “The Holy One in your midst.” What does it say about the holiness of God that it can appear in the midst of judgment (cf. Heb. 12.3-11)?

5.  God’s covenant is an everlasting covenant (Heb. 13.20). His love for His people is unchanging. His Word cannot fail. But this “two-edged” sword cuts two ways, as Israel would come to learn. Explain.

Summary
God did not cease loving His people merely because He was bringing judgment against them. He would still be in their midst, executing the purposes of His holiness, but preserving a remnant to be restored in His love. How deep and strong is the love of God for His people!

Closing Prayer
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 40.4-8

T. M. Moore

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Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For all available studies in Hosea, click here.

A primary theme of the book of Hosea is Israel’s failure to keep covenant with the Lord. God’s covenant is a central theme and provides the organizing motif for all of Scripture. Learn more about God’s covenant by ordering a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store (click here).

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.