October 4, 2011
DO YOU WANT GOD TO HEAL YOU . . . LOVE YOU?
Hosea 14
Denysse Wells
Central Truth
He will heal us and love us undeservedly . . . unconditionally.
Key Verse | Hosea 14:4
I will heal their apostasy,
I will love them freely,
For my anger has turned away from them.
(Hosea 14:4)
Hosea 14
A Plea to Return to the LORD
1
Return, 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
1
14:2
Septuagint, Syriac pay the fruit
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.”
4
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
2
14:7
Hebrew his
shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
3
14:8
Hebrew him
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.
Dive Deeper | Hosea 14
Good news! He is willing! And He already does! That is a constant truth about God, but I have such a hard time accepting it for myself. I believe it is true, and I will say it with absolute certainty to the murderer who is doubting God's forgiveness and love for him. But for some reason, I often find myself struggling to accept that truth in my own life. I wonder why that is?
Maybe it is because, among many other struggles, I struggle with insecurities. Perhaps I am not good enough, or worthy enough, to be loved or forgiven by man, let alone the God of the universe! "Betty" could commit the same sin as I, but I am not worthy of forgiveness, yet she is? Perhaps it is because I also struggle with guilt, the overwhelming consumption of remorse for my sins, that I get in my own way and cannot see the AMAZING GRACE that IS ALREADY OFFERED TO ME!
And then it becomes clear that while my struggles completely play a part in this vicious cycle of not fully accepting for myself the grace that is already given to me, the ultimate truth about the matter is that I have an incorrect view of God. I tell others that God is unconditionally loving; He is always willing to forgive; He heals all wounds; He is gracious, merciful, patient, gentle, and kind; and HE DIED FOR ALL . . . except for me. THAT IS A LIE about Jesus that the devil has fed me, and I have eaten. Jesus died for all . . . including me . . . including you.
The book of Hosea is a sweet one to me because it is about the relentless love of the ULTIMATE ROMANCER. We turn our backs on God daily, and yet His love endures, and He LONGS to be in a sweet and personal relationship with each of us -- regardless of our sinful past years ago, even regardless of our sinful past of just last night.
I have learned that I can no longer rely on myself to heal my wounds and make me white as snow. I must rely on Christ. He will.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you, by faith, entrusted your life to, and accepted, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you believe that He died on the cross to forgive your sins that you might have LIFE? If not, and you choose to do so now, don't do it alone! Let another believer celebrate with you and spur you on to a growing relationship with your Savior! If you already have, does your life reflect this decision?
2. What are the things in your life for which you need healing and forgiveness? Ask Him. He is willing.
3. What is your view of God? Is this a correct view of Him? Feel free to see what God's Word has to say about who He really is.
4. What lies from Satan have you been fed (or are you being fed) that give you a false view of God or hinder you from a genuine relationship with the Lord? Combat it with truth.
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
HOSEA 13–JOEL 3 (OCTOBER 3-7)
Read Joel 1–2:13.
What is the story that Joel wants the people to pass down to their children?
Why is this an important story? (Answer: God wants us to know that destruction will happen at the end of time, just like it did in Joel's time with the locusts. It is important for us to be secure in our hearts of who God is to us, just like it was important for Israel to know who God was to them.)
What or who do you put your confidence in, other than God? (Help your kids think about different things: friendships, good grades, a sports team, mom and dad, no spankings, etc.)
How might those things/people fail you?
Reread Joel 2:12-13.
The Israelites had put their confidence in things besides God. Where does God want us to turn? Why is God who we need to confidently believe in with our hearts?
Get a piece of red paper. Tear out a heart. (Remember it is not about being perfect, it is about our hearts trusting God.) On one side, write all the things that could create a false sense of confidence/security (like a life without locusts). On the other side, write Joel 2:32a.