BIBLICAL PROPHETS - HOSEA - Accusations, Evidence, and Sentence (Hosea 4-10)

Today’s Objectives Review key points from last week Learn of the specific complaints God had about Israel and Judah Recognize that God is deeply concerned that Israel and Judah be faithful to Him. Realize what effects our own sins may be having on our life and the lives of those around us

Book of Hosea in Summary HOSEA’S MARRIAGE HOSEA’S MESSAGE GOMER’S UNFAITHFULNESS GOMER’S RESTORATION GOMER’S DISCIPLINE 1-3 4 - 13 14 ULITMATE RESTORATION

Dead Sea Scrolls and Hosea Copy dates around 100 B.C. Discovered in 1947 Included commentary on Hosea 2:8-14

Timeline from Saul to the Fall…

The Lord’s Charge Against Israel (Hosea 4:1-9) Hosea brings the Lord’s charges Sins of omission and commission? Didn’t do what they should have done Did what they shouldn’t have done Examples (vv 1-2) Priests and prophets stumble (vv 5-9) Destruction of Israel Increasingly sinning against God Transfer of worship from God to other gods Priests and people would be judged Omission – No faith, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land Commission – cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, 3, 9, 6, 7, 8 (see Exodus 20:7-16)

The Continued Charges (Hosea 4:10-19) Wickedness of Israel (vs. 10-14) Futility of sin (vs. 10) Physical and spiritual intoxication (vv.11-12) Worshipping sticks of wood (vs. 12) Tolerating and even promoting promiscuity (vv. 13-14) Judah urged not to follow Israel (vv. 15-19) Avoid Gilgal and Bethel (vs. 15) Israel, the “stubborn heifer” (vs. 16-18) Unwilling to listen to God, Israel would be abandoned Sin can blind the mind and harden the heart, therefore encourage one another Section summary: God described how Israelites were engaged in prostitution of both the spiritual and physical kinds. So God urged the people of Judah to have nothing to do with the Israelites, lest they become infected with unfaithfulness too. The Israelites stubbornly persisted in sin, and therefore God would have to judge them. Hebrews 3:13 “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness” How can we do this? How can we encourage others? A kind word, a card, a call, visit, especially when you exhibit a Godly trait. Gilgal and Bethel – centers of false worship

Judgment Against Israel (Hosea 5:1-7) Call to priests, people, and the king (vs. 1-2) Nations leadership, priests and kings, guilty of drawing people into sin Snare and a net (vs. 1) Israelites had been “rebels” (vs. 2) God knows all about Ephraim (vv. 3-7) Israel is corrupt (vs. 3) Israel would not turn to God (vs. 4) Israel’s arrogance is testimony against them (vs. 5) Israel would search for God but not find Him (vs. 6) A month will devour them (vs. 7) Section summary: Hosea accused Israel's priests, people, and royalty of engaging in and promoting that which was sin in God’s eyes. Consequently, they would be separated from God and be judged. Matthew 8:16 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Have you done anything to entice someone into sin? A month will devour them? The Assyrians will destroy them in a month.

Judgment on Both Kingdoms (Hosea 5:8-15) God’s great threat to both nations Israel and Judah were warning each another Sound the trumpet, raise the battle cry (vs. 8) Gibeah, Ramah, and Bethel (vs. 8) Judgment upon Israel and Judah (vv. 9-15) Ephraim turned to Assyria (vs. 13) Syro-Ephraimitic War No one could give Israel or Judah true security Section Summary: God warned the Israelites that Judah’s army would be marching into their territory. God also promised to judge Judah for this. The Israelites turned to Assyria for help against Judah. But Assyria could not help. The Lord was going to punish both Israel and Judah until they repented. Gibeah, Ramah, were cities in Judah all territories allotted to Benjamin. Bethel was in Israel. But all three cities were on the border between the two kingdoms.

The Syro-Ephraimitic War Occurred in 734 B.C. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of the Israel Kingdom sought to force Judah and King Ahaz into an anti-Assyrian alliance against Tiglath-Pileser III Isaiah urged Ahaz to trust in God for deliverance and not to worry about northern invaders (Isa 7:1-17) But Ahaz in fact sent a bribe to Tiglath-Pileser III (2 Kgs 16:7-8) In 732 B.C., Assyria attacked Syria and eliminated the Syrian threat against Judah In 725 B.C., Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II laid a three-year siege against the capital of Israel, Samaria, and destroyed it in 722 B.C.

Consequences… Tiglath-Pileser III invaded and incorporated the majority of the northern kingdom into the Assyrian provincial system Three provinces established: Gilead, Megiddo, and Dor Hoshea murdered Pekah, became king, and sent tribute to Assyria. Judah was eventually captured by Babylon Indulging in sinful habits leads to destruction!

Review of Hosea 6-10 Call to return to the Lord (6:1-3) Israel’s response was insincere (6:4-10) Israel’s sin of deceit, theft, adultery, and drunkenness are repeated (6:11-7:7) Israel was easily led by nations like Assyria and Egypt (7:8-13) Judgment caused Israel to cry out, though insincere (7:14-16) Attacks Israel’s bankrupt political system and calf worship (8) God promises to put an end to hypocritical worship by sending Israel into exile (9:1-9) Assured Israel that Hosea’s prophecies were true (9:10-17) Exile would strip Israel of it’s monarchy, alters, and idols (10:1-8) Samaria would be destroyed (10:7) Predicted the complete destruction of Bethel and King of Israel (10:9-15)

Review Reviewed key points from last week Learned of the specific complaints God had about Israel and Judah Recognized that God is deeply concerned that Israel and Judah be faithful to Him. Realize what effects our own sins may be having on our life and the lives of those around us Next week, conclude Hosea with Chapters 11-14 “God’s Love and Forgiveness” Breaking 5 of the 10 commandments cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery