1. What the Minors Say About Our Majors
Hosea 14:9
“The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them. . .”

2. Background Prophets told Solomon his kingdom would be divided
Hosea instructed to marry a prostitute
Jezreel – fulfill prophecy regarding Jehu
Lo-Ruhamah – “I will no longer show love”
Lo-Ammi – “you are not my people, and I am not your God”

3. “Lack” of Knowledge
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (4:6):
lack of obedience to knowledge of God
No faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God
Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, bloodshed
Affects both the church and the world (4:2-5)

4. “Lack” of Knowledge Spiritual adultery
Spirit of prostitution leads astray (4:10)
“Love” God and we love the world
Judgment against the priests (5)

5. Call to Repentance Twice Paid (6:1-3)
Hosea married and then bought her “at the going price” – Chap 3
We were created by God, and then bought by Christ’s blood
Spring and winter rains
Delight in loyalty and knowledge (6:6)
Not sacrifices and burnt offerings
Confessing vs. repentant (learn from the past)

6. Compromise Ephraim compromised with nations (7:11)
Jereboam established the kingdom on falsehoods
Blame God because He doesn’t answer
They pushed Him out – spiritual prostitution
Worshipped the golden calves / Baal worship
“Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind”
Spoken out of anger – reap a hurricane

7. Compromise Sold themselves to the nations
The prophet a fool; the inspired man a maniac (9:8)
They are made watchman over Israel
We become what we worship! (9:10)
God allows people to become what they pursue (9:17; 10:2)

8. Seek His Kingdom Break up the fallow ground (10:12)
“clods” of dirt broken by working the soil
Areas of hardness that need breaking
Seek him until he rains righteousness upon us (10:12; 11:6)
Return to observe His kindness and justice
“. . . I will ransom; I will redeem. . .” (13:14)
“O death, where are your thorns, O Sheol, where is your sting?”

9. Seek His Kingdom
“The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them”

10. Personal Application Indicative of our day
Started back in the mid to late ‘60’s
Promiscuity, drugs, etc.
Little by little, precept by precept
Lost a little here and a little there

11. Personal Application Hard to regain
If we turn and pursue righteousness God will hear us.
Rain upon us
Spring and Winter rain
Former and the latter rain
Look at our loyalty and obedience