Lesson 3. love: In Spite Of. Hosea 3. Day 1

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1 Lesson 3 The lessons for each week are divided up into a five day study. Each day will cover a section of the scripture we are studying for this lesson. As you READ each section of scripture pray for God to REVEAL His truths to you so that you will be able to RESPOND to what God is teaching you and you will be able to apply His Word in your life. Do not be discouraged if you have difficulties with some of the questions. When we get together each week we will have a teaching time to help with your understanding of each verse. love: In Spite Of Hosea 3 Then the Lord said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. Hosea 3:1 Day 1 Hosea 3:1 1) Then the Lord said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. 1. According to this verse, what is Hosea commanded to do? 2. What does this verse tell you about Hosea s feelings for his wife Gomer? 3. What does this verse tell you about Gomer? Is she living with Hosea at this time? 4. Read Matthew 19:7-9. Did Hosea have Biblical grounds to divorce Gomer? Why or why not? 5. Why do think Hosea did not divorce Gomer? (read Matthew 19:4-6 and Ephesians 5:31-32) Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 1

2 6. How does the Lord love the sons of Israel? Read II Timothy 2: Read I Corinthians 13:1-3. Summarize what these verses are telling you about love. Day 2 Hosea 3:2 2) So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 1. In order for Hosea to get Gomer back, what did he have to do? How do you think Hosea was feeling about all this? 2. Who do you think Gomer belonged to? 3. What do Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:23 tell you? Are we really any different from Gomer? Without Christ, who do we belong to? 4. Read Romans 5:6-8. What good news do you find in these verses? 5. Is it possible for us to redeem ourselves? Why or why not? (Hebrews 9:22, I Peter 1:18-19, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-9) Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 2

3 6. Read I Corinthians 6: Pray and meditate on these verses. What is God specifically saying to you today? The third chapter of Hosea is, in my judgment, the greatest chapter in the Bible, because it portrays the greatest story in the Bible the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people in the most concise and poignant form to be found anywhere.. Hosea 3 shows us God s work of redemption the work by which the Lord Jesus Christ delivered us from sin s bondage at the cost of His own life portrayed in Hosea s purchase of his fallen wife from slavery. James Montgomery Boice, The Minor Prophets: Volume 1, pg. 31 Now notice, at this point Hosea owned his wife. She was his property. He could do anything he wished with her. If he had wanted to kill her out of spite, he could have done it.. Yet he did not, because at this point Hosea s love, which is an illustration of God s love for us burned brightest. Instead of seeking vengeance, he put Gomer s clothes on her, led her away into the anonymity of the crowd, and claimed that love from her that was now his right. Moreover, as he did so, he promised no less from himself. James Montgomery Boice, The Minor Prophets: Volume 1, pg. 35 Day 3 Hosea 3:3 3) Then I said to her, You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you If you are a parent and your child disobeys you, do you ever take things away from them? Why do you do that? 2. What instructions did Hosea give to Gomer? What did he take away from Gomer? 3. What does this time of many days represent in the history of Israel? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 3

4 4. What do you believe Hosea s desire was for his marriage? What do you think the phrase, so I will also be toward you means? 5. Explain how Hosea represents God in this verse. Day 4 Hosea 3:4 4) For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. 1. Does Israel have a king now? 2. When Jesus came to be their king what was their response? Read Luke 19:14 and John 19: What is this verse telling us about the Temple and sacrifices that were part of the Israelites lives? 4. Read I Samuel 23:9-11 and I Samuel 30:7. What was the ephod used for? 5. What does it mean that the people no longer have the ephod? 6. Why is this period of time so important for the people of Israel? Read Amos 5:4. What is God s heart for the people of Israel during this time of many days? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 4

5 Day 5 Hosea 3:5 5) Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. 1. What specific time is this verse talking about? When is afterward? After what? Read Luke 21:24 and Romans 11: What does it mean when it says that Israel will return? 3. Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Matthew 7:7-8. What do these verses promise us if we seek God? 4. Read Deuteronomy 4: What does verse 29 tell you about seeking the Lord? What does verse 30 tell you about what it means to return to the Lord? What will you do if you return? What four things does verse 30 tell you about God? 5. Who is David their king? Read Luke 1: What did the angel tell Mary? Read I Chronicles 17: What did Nathan tell King David in these verses? 6. How would you personally describe God s goodness? How have you already experienced God s goodness in your life? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 5

6 Remember that is was not we who sought Him. It was He who sought us and who joined us to Himself through spiritual marriage. He courted us. He won our love. Then He brought us to that moment when we stood with Him before the Father and recited those spiritual vows that made us His for eternity. He took the vows first of all: I, Jesus, take thee, sinner, to be my wedded wife; and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be they loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and for eternity. And we look up into His face and said after Him, I, sinner, take Thee, Jesus, to be my Savior and Lord; and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to by Thy loving and faithful bride; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and for eternity. Thus, we took His name and became His. Before we were Miss Sinner. Now we have become Mrs. Christian, for Christian means Christ-one. Now we must be careful to keep His name unspotted before the world. Have you done that? Or have you dishonored His name by the way you have spent your time, by your questionable associations, by your loose talk or blasphemous language? If that is the case, remember that the price He paid for you love was His own death on Calvary. Remember His faithfulness and determine that hereafter you will always be faithful to Him. Ask Him to seal that love, keeping and perfecting you until the day when you will stand before both Him and His Father at the great marriage supper of the Lamb. James Montgomery Boice, The Minor Prophets: Volume 1, pg. 39 God s love is Radical God s love is Relentless God s love is Redeeming There is always a purpose. God is Sovereign and He has a perfect plan There is always hope. God is always faithful. God is always love. He always keeps His promises. There is always the opportunity for reconciliation and restoration God is full of mercy, grace and forgiveness when we repent and return to Him. Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 6