Agony of a faithful God

Study

BOOK OF HOSEA

Background

• 8th Century BC

• 35 years history

• Involving 6 Kings

• Focused on Israel

Display of YHWH’s Faithfulness

• Father – Son (1:20; 11:1-4)

• Physician – patient (5:13);

• Lover – loved one (Hosea- Wife)

& Man’s Unfaithfulness

• A stubborn cow 4:6

• A estranged wife 2:5

• Semi-cooked cake 7:8

• Silly dove 7:11

• Sagging bow 7:16

• Self-serving vine 10:1,2

Roots of unfaithfulness

Pursuing wrong sources for solution

(5:13; 3:1;4:12; Jer 46:11; 30:12-15)

Roots of unfaithfulness

Feeble attempts to please our God

(6:4b; 13:3; Mt. 13:1-5; Dan. 3:17,18)

Roots of unfaithfulness

Lethal disconnects(6:6; 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 Sam 15; Is.1; Jer 7;

Micah 6; Hos 11:7; Jer 22)

Roots of unfaithfulness

Manipulative spirituality(6:7; 11: 1-5)

Summary• Roots of unfaithfulness

– Pursuing easy/ wrong sources for

solution

– Feeble/ fragile relationship with Jesus Christ

– Disconnect between precept & practice

– Manipulative spirituality

For I am God & not manThe Holy One in your

midst(Hosea 11:9b)