Weds Night Bible Study 8-18-10

God's Call and Our Response:  "The Call of Hosea"

LIFE (Living In Fellowship Everyday):  We are on a relational Journey--Greater connection with God and people.

Last Week:  We looked at God's call to Amos: a call to servanthood.  Amos was sent by God to provoke Israel to turn from its idolatry and turn back to worship the One True God.  God wanted his people to serve one another and take care of those who were struggling.

This Week:  We will explore the life of the prophet, Hosea.  Hosea received a call to discipleship.  God would teach Hosea more about agape--God's love--by connecting with him and making the journey through a rocky personal life.  The prophets' experience with God was always intensely personal.  Why?  Because a prophet of God is always deeply "God conscious!"   God will use your circumstances to teach you more about Himself, too.  Are we going to listen? 

Introduction:  Hosea ( means "the Lord Saves") was given a message from God for his generation. Hosea was a young contemporary  of Amos. Remember, during  Amos' call, Israel was a split kingdom; the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah).  The northern kingdom--Israel--is declining rapidly when Hosea enters the scene.  These folks proclaimed to be worshiping God, but in truth they were worshiping Baalim of the Canaanite religion.  It was a time of moral degeneracy and spiritual adultery.  Flagrant immorality, irreverence for the sacred, unfaithfulness, thievery, murder, and drunkenness were the order of the day.  Sound familiar?  Not the heart of a worshiper!  Israel continued to reject God.  Would God forgive?

A Little Humor:  A woman bought a parrot for a pet. All the parrot did was treat her badly. It insulted her and every time she tried to pick it up, it would peck at her arm. One day she got fed up with the parrot and as it was insulting her she picked it up, it continued with the insults.."you're ugly! I can't stand you!" and it pecked at her arm as she carried it. She opened the freezer door and threw him in and closed the door. From inside, the parrot was still going on for about 5 seconds and then it was suddenly quiet.

She thought, "Oh no, I killed it!" She open the door and the parrot just looked at her. She picked it up. Then the parrot said:  "I'm very sorry. I apologize for my bad behavior and promise you there will be no more of that. From now on, I will be a respectful, obedient parrot." "Well OK" she said. "apology accepted". The parrot said "Thank you". Then he said, "Can I ask you something?" She said, "Yes, What?"
And the parrot looked at the freezer and asked, "What did the chicken do?"

Forgiveness is going to be required in Hosea's story; how will Hosea respond?  Marriage is a powerful image and symbol of the covenant relationship God made with His people.  God provided for His people; but they were unfaithful.  A drama within a drama is revealed as Hosea lives something similar with his wife, Gomer. 

READ:  Hosea Chapter 1
We serve a God of both judgment and mercy; the purpose is for restoration.  Drama:  God wanted His Bride back; Hosea wanted his bride back.  Some people feel this is a literary parable. Many scholars, however, feel Gomer was a prostitute in the sense that she was an idolatress.  Many pagan religions used "sacred prostitutes."

The Call:   For Hosea, marrying Gomer--the prostitute--was the first step of his prophetic career.  Hosea's pain in his marriage prepared him for the prophetic message he would give to the nation of Israel about her spiritual idolatry.

Hosea continued his prophetic call by giving symbolic names to each of the three children Gomer bore.

Jezreel:  symbolizing the overthrow of the dynasty of Jehu
Lo-ruhama: (means she who never knew a father's love) indicating that God would have no mercy on Israel
Lo-ammi: (means no kin of mine) symbolizing the utter destruction of Israel

A Sad Awakening:  Within Hosea's marriage, he begins to be concerned about his wife. He knew she had weaknesses.  Perhaps he had hoped to change her; were the second and third child even his?
 
READ:  Hosea 2:2, 7-13

It is not clear if Hosea sent Gomer away or if she left on her own to continue her life of prostitution.  Scholars believe she once again became a sacred prostitute in the idol worship of Baal.

A Picture of Spiritual Insight/God lifted the veil so Hosea could see:  Can you imagine how Hosea might feel?  He's groping for answers--a solution.  He notices that his situation is very similar to what had been happening between God and His people--Israel--for a long time.  Hosea's private pain caused him to see--be sympathetic--to God's pain with the idolatrous actions of Israel.  He learned of God's sorrow in his own sorrow.  He learned to forgive and to redeem his wife only by hearing God forgive and redeem His people.

READ:  Hosea 3:1-3

Hosea found Gomer had been sold into slavery.  He went and purchased her back--small amount which symbolizes she had devalued herself.  Israel had done the same;  the Church continues to do so. 

Hosea did not restore Gomer into her former position all at once; discipline was necessary.  Hosea learned many things; his power was in his wound.  He was now able to preach of the suffering love of God. 

God forgives/God extends forgiveness all the time.  Are you being called to do the same?  Is God lifting the veil to help you see you need to forgive someone?

Why Should I Forgive?
We must forgive in order to heal.  We have all endured things that were unjust; things that require us to forgive others.  In order to begin the healing process.  We need to forgive. Set yourself free. Forgive and move forward.
We must forgive because God forgave us." And be kind one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32
We must forgive because unforgiveness opens the door for Satan to bring strife into our lives. "Now when you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for our sakes in the presence of Christ. Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." 2Corinthians 2:10-11.
The enemy uses our pain to keep us trapped in past hurts. We must not allow him to use our unforgiveness to hold us hostage.

How Do I Forgive?
In order to forgive, you must decide to let go of the offense and free the offender. Let go of thoughts of anger and revenge. Trust God to deal with your offender. "Dear friends, never take revenge.  Leave that to the righteous anger of God.  For the Scriptures say, I will take revenge; I will pay them back says the Lord." Romans 12:19
God will handle those who hurt you, but in His own time and His own way. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, what a man sows that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7.
The second thing you must do is plead the blood of Jesus over your past offenses and painful memories. And whenever that painful memory rears it's ugly head, you just say,
"I have forgiven _______. I plead the blood of Jesus over the painful memory of that event. I am healed from the hurt, in Jesus Name. Amen."
Forgive, heal, confess, and be blessed!

Closing Prayer