Understanding to Repent [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 13:15–14:9]

What is repentance? Hosea 13:15–14:9 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that repentance is a change of heart, by the grace of God, which is communicated to God, and blessed by God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.05.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 13:15–14:9

Read Hosea 13:15–14:9

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Ephraim appear to be (Hosea 13:15a)? But what will come to interrupt this (verse 15b–c)? With what effect (verse 15d–e)? What will He be doing to them (verse 15f)? What is His verdict about their capital city (Hosea 13:16a)? Why (verse 16b)? What will happen to them (verse 16c)? And what, to whom, specifically (verse 16d)? And what, to whom else (verse 16e)? Whom does Hosea 14:1 address? What does it urge them to do (verse 1a)? Why (verse 1b)? What should they take with them (Hosea 14:2a–b)? What words, specifically: to take away what (verse 2d)? And to do what to them (verse 2e)? In what manner? And how will they respond (verse 2f)? What else must they say—what must they disavow (Hosea 14:3a–c)? What must they acknowledge and hope in (verse 3d)? What will the Lord do (Hosea 14:4a)? As an expression of what (verse 4b)? And result of what (verse 4c)? What will He be like to them (Hosea 14:5a)? With what results (Hosea 14:5-6c)? With what results upon whom (Hosea 14:7)? What will God’s grace produce (Hosea 14:8a, cf. Hosea 14:3c)? From where will this life and fruitfulness come (Hosea 14:8b–d)? What does Hosea 14:9 call whom to do (verse 9a–d)? What does it assert about YHWH’s ways (verse 9e)? What do the righteous do with His ways (verse 9f)? Who cannot walk in them (verse 9g)?

What is repentance? Hosea 13:15–14:9 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that repentance is a change of heart, by the grace of God, which is communicated to God, and blessed by God.

The Spirit of YHWH (Hosea 13:15c, more literally) will bring Israel under conviction of their sin (Hosea 13:15-16b), even though He will employ a severe chastening in doing so (Hosea 13:16c–d). The Spirit uses the severity of the chastening to produce the urgent response to which Israel is called in Hosea 14:1—to return to YHWH.

Take words with you (Hosea 14:2). Repentance comes with words, not as if syllables can accomplish anything, but because the Lord has created us to be communicating creatures, and we must not merely hold these things in our hearts but communicate them to Him. 

Repentance seeks not just forgiveness (“take away all iniquity”), but reconciliation (“receive us graciously”), and restoration to privileges (i.e., the privilege of praise, “we will offer the sacrifices of our lips,” Hosea 14:2f”). 

Repentance must reflect not mere sorrow, but a change in heart. In this case, they renounce trusting in Assyria (Hosea 14:3a) or cavalry (verse 3b, cf. Isaiah 31:1). And, especially, they renounce idolatry (Hosea 14:3c). It is God’s grace (Hosea 14:4-7) that produces this renouncing of idolatry (Hosea 14:8a). They cannot heal their own backsliding, so God will (Hosea 14:4a), because He loves them (verse 4b). God Himself will be the dew (Hosea 14:5a) that produces the thriving life of His people (Hosea 14:5-6, Hosea 14:8), and even makes them ones under whom others may thrive (Hosea 14:7). 

Ultimately, Hosea, and salvation, and all of history are about one thing: God Himself (Hosea 14:9). Wisdom and prudence are bound up in knowing the Lord Himself. What is in us leads to being “not my people” and “not shown compassion.” But the solution to what is in us is what is in Him. Those made righteous by His grace walk in His ways (verse 9e–f), but apart from this grace, no one can walk in them (verse 9g). 

How do you repent with words? What change in heart has been needed? What might be needed now? From where can it come? How has God refreshed you? How have you thrived by His refreshment? How are you enabling others to thrive?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for we have often tolerated our sin, rather than coming to You with Words that express a real change of heart. And at other times, we have come to You with words, but our lives did not reflect a true change of heart. We need You to be the dew that produces thriving spiritual life in us. Heal our backsliding, and love us freely, and turn away Your anger from us, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP130 “Lord, from the Depths, to You I Cried” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”

The Only Hope for Sinners [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 11:12–13:14]

Why did Ephraim need God Himself to commit Himself to being their Savior? Hosea 11:12–13:14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who are subject to original sin can only be saved by God Himself.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.05.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 11:12–13:14

Read Hosea 11:12–13:14

Questions from the Scripture text: What have the northern kingdom done to the Lord (Hosea 11:12a–b)? But what is the south doing (verse 12c–d)? What does Ephraim feed upon and pursue (Hosea 12:1a–b)? In what does he increase (verse 1c)? With whom do they do trade (verse 1d–e)? But against whom does YHWH also bring a charge (Hosea 12:2a)? Who are they acting like (Hosea 12:2-4a)? But how has God dealt with him (Hosea 12:4-5)? How does this give hope for the present (Hosea 12:6)? But what are they acting like (Hosea 12:7)? And what do they think about their actions (Hosea 12:8)? What does YHWH say that He will do (Hosea 12:9)? What has He already done (Hosea 12:10)? What will He do to their false worship (Hosea 12:11)? Through what has the Lord taken care of Israel (Hosea 12:12)? And through whom (Hosea 12:13)? But what has Israel still done to Him (Hosea 12:14)? What attitude had what results (Hosea 13:1a–b)? But what action had what opposite result (verse 1c)? Now what are they doing (Hosea 13:2)? With what result for them (Hosea 13:3)? What has the Lord been to them, for how long (Hosea 13:4a–b)? What has He resolved about this relationship (verse 4c–d)? When did He bring them to know Him (Hosea 13:5)? What happened under more comfortable conditions (Hosea 13:6)? Therefore, how will He del with them (Hosea 13:7-8)? What help will they have in their distress (Hosea 13:9)? Who will YHWH be to them (Hosea 13:10)? What is the implied answer to the rhetorical questions in v10? Why did He give them a king (Hosea 13:11)? Why did He take him away? How ingrained (Hosea 13:12a) and complete (verse 12b) is Ephraim’s sin? How difficult will his judgment be upon him (Hosea 13:13a)? What does verse 13b call him? What has he done during his “childbirth” (verse 13c)? What will keep them from dying (Hosea 13:14a–b)? Who will actually die (verse 14c–e)?

Why did Ephraim need God Himself to commit Himself to being their Savior? Hosea 11:12–13:14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who are subject to original sin can only be saved by God Himself.

The sinful nature to which we are enslaved. Ephraim’s decline into treachery against the Lord (Hosea 11:12a–b) went ahead of Judah’s (verse 12c–d). Rather than turn to the Lord in repentance, they turned to those who are great objects of God’s wrath in history (Hosea 12:1). But Judah was not far behind (Hosea 12:2-3). The problem with all people is their sinful nature; they sin because they’re sinners. And this was true of Israel; they continue to have the nature of their father (Hosea 12:3), which nature presented itself fully in his children (Hosea 12:7-8). Dear reader, you sinned in your first father Adam. And unless you come into the Lord Jesus as your new Adam, you will be trapped in that original, sinful nature forever.

The divine nature that is the hope of sinners. But just as man stays true to his nature, God is always gloriously true to His. He was merciful to the heel-grabber from the beginning (Hosea 12:3-4), He continued to show them mercy throughout their history (Hosea 12:9-10), and this unchanging God (Hosea 12:5) continues to be their merciful hope a millennium later (Hosea 12:6). From beginning to end of your covenant with Him, the Lord is your hope. From beginning to end of your spiritual life, the Lord is your hope. 

The severe chastening that serious mercy provides. Now, God’s mercy is pursuing a very specific objective: eliminate their idolatry (Hosea 12:11). His providence had prospered Jacob in Laban’s house (Hosea 12:12, cf. Genesis 31:12–16). His providence had redeemed them by the hand of Moses (Hosea 12:13). Yet, against all this grace, Israel continued to sin—provoking the current, severe chastening of the exile (Hosea 12:14). 

Lowliness before God (Hosea 13:1a) exalts a people (verse 1b). But the pride to sin freely (verse 1c) puts a sinner on the path to more and more impudent sin (Hosea 13:2). Their faithfulness is like vapor, chaff, and smoke (Hosea 13:3). But the Lord’s faithfulness… the LORD’s FAITHFULNESS!!!... that endures forever! He is the One Who made Himself their covenant God (Hosea 13:4a–b), and He is resolved that His faithfulness will overcome their unfaithfulness so that they love (verse 4c) and trust in (verse 4d) Him alone. Indeed, the early days of their history with Him, in the wilderness, were a forty year case-study in the former overcoming the latter (Hosea 13:5-6). 

So, in His loving and redeeming resolve, severe mercy is now called for (Hosea 13:7-8). He will destroy them with such a destruction that leaves them with no illusion of being able to turn anywhere else or to anyone else (Hosea 13:9-10). All of God’s dealings with them—both His giving them a king (Hosea 13:11a), and His taking from them a king (verse 11b)—have been chastenings to disabuse them of their sin. They (and we) need continual help against our sin, because on the one hand, our sin is bound up in us (Hosea 13:12a, cf. Proverbs 22:15), and on the other hand, we keep on storing it up against ourselves (Hosea 13:12b, cf. Romans 2:5). Let your sin go, dear reader. Put it away. So long as you cling to your sin, either God will condemn you to it forever, or He will put you through whatever severity of chastening is necessary to free you from your sin.

The divine resolve that secures spiritual resurrection. Spiritually, Ephraim is still in the birth canal, putting everyone through great pain and danger of death itself (Hosea 13:13). But death itself, spiritual and physical, are no obstacle for the living God; He will redeem them (Hosea 13:14a–b). He will be the death of death (verse 14c–d) and give death no quarter (verse 14e). O what hope is yours, when the Lord is Your hope! If you are in Christ, nothing, not even death itself, can separate you from the love of God, or keep Him from conforming you to the image of His Son.

When you look back on severe trials in your life, what does this passage teach you about what the Lord was doing then? What are the most severe things that you are going through? What sin might you still be clinging to? What habits of heart or mind do you have in place for remembering God’s mercy, power, and faithfulness?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we confess that we sinned in our first father and fell with him, just as Ephraim continued to demonstrate Jacob’s nature a thousand years later. We have sinned against You and needed the severest of chastenings. But, we’re so thankful that You have committed Your faithfulness and power, in Your mercy, to giving us life with You forever. Continue forgiving us for Christ’s sake, and conforming us to Christ’s character, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP130 “Lord, from the Depths, to You I Cried” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone" 

2025.04.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 11:1–11

Read Hosea 11:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: To what time does Hosea 11:1 refer? What was God’s disposition toward Israel then? What did He do for them? How did Israel end up doing what (Hosea 11:2)? But what had the Lord been doing for them this time (Hosea 11:3a–b)? With what irony (verse 3c)? How was the Lord dealing with them, during this time (Hosea 11:4)? What will now happen to Israel (Hosea 11:5a–b)? Why? What will this event be like (Hosea 11:6a–c)? Why (verse 6d)? Why do they keep doing this (Hosea 11:7a)? What are they doing on the surface (verse 7b)? But what are they not doing in reality (verse 7c)? What is the implied answer to each of the four rhetorical questions in Hosea 11:8a–d)? What emotional language does the Lord use to describe the intensity and intimacy of His commitment to reconciling Israel to Himself (verse v8e–f)? What will He not do (Hosea 11:9a–b, e)? Why not (verse 9c–d)? What will they do as a result of His coming to them (Hosea 11:10a, d; Hosea 11:11a–b)? How will He accomplish this (Hosea 11:10b–c)? What, ultimately, will He accomplish (Hosea 11:11c)? Why/how is this sure (verse 11d)?

How can inveterate sinners be saved? Hosea 11:1–11 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s purpose, pleasure, and power ensure the salvation of all of His elect.

The initiative of grace, Hosea 11:1-4. There are many wicked peoples. Why is this one going to be saved? Because the Lord decided to love them (Hosea 11:1). This love ultimately belongs to His only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus (cf. Matthew 2:15). For His sake, the Lord chose Israel. In Him, the Lord has chosen particular beloved children from all eternity (cf. Ephesians 1:3–5). Through Israel, God would bring His Son into the world, and He would eternally save His elect children. And many of these elect children formed a remnant even with Israel at the time of Hosea (cf. Romans 9:6–8, Romans 9:22–27; Romans 11:1–4). God’s loving dealings with Israel, from their very beginning, has always been with a view to those elect within Israel, and those elect whom He would graft into Israel. We must always see the electing, redeeming, adopting love of God driving everything that happens in history.

But Israel did not see this (Hosea 11:3c). While the Lord was establishing them (verse 3a–b) with great and gentle love (Hosea 11:4), they very easily went after any idol to which men or demons called them (Hosea 11:2). What a danger is blindness to the electing, life-giving, light-giving, faith-giving, reconciling, redeeming love of God! This is a serious danger with what is called Arminianism. In it, men have hidden from their sight the great initiative of grace. And, rather than responding to this initiative by clinging fiercely to the Lord Who has elected and initiated in this way, they become prone to go after any spiritual thing to which men call them—all because so much of the initiating, intimate love of God has been hidden from their eyes. 

But even someone with a very accurate doctrine of sovereign election may be quite forgetful of electing love. Dear reader, let the Spirit’s words sink embed in your thoughts and prick your heart with fatherly love-at-first sight (Hosea 11:1a), and fatherly beckoning (verse 1b), and the tenderness of a Daddy with His toddler’s hands in His as He teaches him to walk (Hosea 11:3a–b), and persistent wooing and drawing in love (Hosea 11:4a–b). Fortify yourself against idolatry by dwelling upon the tender love of your heavenly Father. 

The necessity of grace, Hosea 11:5-7. We see just how necessary this electing  and regenerating love is, when we consider the effect that God’s deliverances had upon Israel as a whole. For, as Romans 9–11 remind us, the savingly elected within Israel have always been but a remnant, without which Israel would have been as Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Romans 9:25–29). And we can see just how necessary the transforming work of sovereign grace is, if we consider how Israel as a whole responded to God’s deliverance and covenant. “They refused to repent” (Hosea 11:5c). Not only did they live by “their own counsels” (Hosea 11:6d), but they did so because they had a nature that was “bent on backsliding from Me” (Hosea 11:7a). They had a religion in which they called to the Most High (verse 7b), but they were not genuinely exalting Him (verse 7c). 

If it were possible to look into a mirror that could “erase grace,” this is what we would see in it. Here is the ugly reality of what every single one of us would be if there were no sovereign grace to give man a new nature: bent on turning from the Lord, committed to our own counsels over-against His Word, staunchly refusing to repent, and offering only superficial and hypocritical worship. How desperately we needed grace to transform us! How desperately, still, we need that grace to restrain and overcome all that remains in us from what we were before we were regenerated!

The freedom of grace, Hosea 11:8-9. So, shall original sin win? Shall remaining sin win? God forbid! Indeed, He literally does forbid. He is “God and not man” (Hosea 11:9c). He is so supremely powerful and wise that He is not confined by our bent unto backsliding. Rather, He does according to His eternal, electing love (Hosea 11:8), because He has the wisdom and power to satisfy His holiness without giving up His people (verse 8a–b), or destroying them (Hosea 11:9b), or coming to them with terror (verse 9e). Whether you are an unbeliever who is realizing that you are enslaved to your sin altogether, or a believer who is alarmed at how entrenched your remaining sin is, behold the power of God almighty to save! His wisdom and power are so perfect that He is at complete freedom to save whomever He will!

The success of grace, Hosea 11:10-11. Thus, we see that His purpose to save will always be realized. Let us be done with that foul and offensive view of the limitation of God’s salvation that says there are many (or any!) for whom Christ came, or for whom Christ died, who will yet perish in their sins. No! His Word has uttered that He will save (Hosea 11:11d). And His Word goes out to do that saving like that roar of a lion that cannot possible be denied (Hosea 11:10b–c). To whomever His saving Word goes out, He will give that salvation that secures their walking after Him (verse 10a), coming as beloved children in holy reverence and submission (Hosea 11:10-11b), to live in their homes as those among whom their Lord dwells (Hosea 11:11c). Fret not, when your working out of your salvation is with fear and trembling (cf. Philippians 2:12), for it is this Almighty Lion Who works in you both to will and to work according to His good pleasure (cf. Philippians 2:13). 

What is your habit for dwelling upon the tender, resolved determination of God to save you? How has remaining sin continued to reveal itself as entrenched in you? What is your hope against such entrenched sin? What place do God’s power and freedom have in your praises of Him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving and choosing to save from before the world began. Forgive us for how unmindful we are of that love, and how easily we go after what other men call us to, or after our own counsels. And thank You for how sure Your salvation is. Forgive us for when we are discouraged or anxious about how things are going with us spiritually—and forgive us for when we are not wholly devoted to that sanctifying work in us that You Yourself have devoted Yourself to. Grant that, by Your Spirit, Your Word would roar unto us and bring us home to Yourself, in Your Son, which we ask through His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP130 “Lord, from the Depths, to You I Cried” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”

Made to Plow for Repentance [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 10:3–15]

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 10:3–15

Read Hosea 10:3–15

Questions from the Scripture text: How will Israel respond to their punishment (Hosea 10:3a–c)? But why would they have wanted a king (verse 3d)? What have they done to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b)? With what consequence (verse 4c)? How will the residents of the capital respond (Hosea 10:5a)? What is Bethel called instead in verse 5b? What will happen to its calf (Hosea 10:5-6)? With what effect upon Ephraim/Israel (Hosea 10:6c–d)? What will happen to their king (Hosea 10:7)? What will happen to their worship places (Hosea 10:8a–c)? What will they hope to be covered by (verse 8d–e)? How long has Israel been so wicked (Hosea 10:9a–b, cf. Judges 19–20)? But what hadn’t the Lord yet done (Hosea 10:9c–d)? When will He (Hosea 10:10)? What would Ephraim had liked, metaphorically, to do (Hosea 10:11a–b)? What will the Lord chasten her to do instead (verse 11c–d)? To whom else will He do this (verse 11e–f)? What will they be “digging up” (Hosea 10:12)? What have they “worked at” before (Hosea 10:13a–c)? Especially by doing what (verse 13d–e)? What is coming upon them, as a result (Hosea 10:14-15)? 

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. 

The end is here, and the end is sad, Hosea 10:1-8. We have heard the final verdict and the sentence (Hosea 10:2). Now, we see the results. They know that their kingdom has fallen because of their sin (Hosea 10:3a–c), but their interest in a king was purely selfish: “what would he do for us?” (verse 3d). They are insincere in their covenant bond to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b), so their response to judgment breeds even more judgment, like weeds (verse 4c). In an age in which people do not realize that their church membership is a solemn covenant with God Himself, we grieve to think how appropriately verse 4 could be written about so many in the visible church. 

The Lord cuts off their false worship, concentrated in the golden calf at Bethel (and its sister in Dan). They are so proud of it, it is considered their “glory” (Hosea 10:5e), and people and “priests” weep and wail for it (verse 5c–d). They thought they worshiped YHWH by it at “Beth El” (house of God), but the Lord has called the place “Beth Aven” (house of iniquity). When their idol is presented to the Assyrian king, the Lord will have humiliated their purported glory (Hosea 10:6).

The Lord cuts off their false government, concentrated in the king in Samaria. Rather than have the weight of honor to make an impact for them, he will be as weightless and helpless as a twig in a river (Hosea 10:7).

The Lord cuts off their false religion. As He destroys the worship in which they falsely hoped, they will turn to mountains and hills to hide them from God, but their iniquity (“Aven”) will continue to be exposed before God (Hosea 10:8). Just as nettles and thorns inherit their wealth (cf. Hosea 9:6), thorns and thistles will inherit their worship (Hosea 10:8c).

The end is like the beginning, which hints at the only hope, Hosea 10:9-15. “Gibeah” in Hosea 10:9 takes us back to Judges 19–20. How did things “get so bad” in Israel? From the beginning, their hearts were as Sodom and Gomorrah, and so were their actions, when unrestrained! One reason that their sin demands such a response is because it is the genuine expression of what is in them. This is true of us, too, dear reader.

And yet, just as the Lord had shown what that sin deserved in the battle of Gibeah (Hosea 10:9c, cf. Judges 20), He had also patiently borne with them for many generations. The word “two” in Hosea 10:10 has the sense of “double”; in His longsuffering, the Lord has waited until they filled up a double measure of their before bringing this chastening upon them. This has happened by their sin and what it has provoked, but it has happened even more so at His pleasure (“When I desire,” verse 10a). 

Their will would have been threshing-floor duty, where they can eat while they do light work (cf. Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9–10; 1 Timothy 5:18). But He will give them, instead, field duty, where they have to do the hard work of pulling a plow to break up clods of dirt (Hosea 10:11). Indeed, this is designed primarily toward those whom He is bringing to repentance through this. They have been happy enough to work hard at sin (Hosea 10:13); now he will bring them to work hard in repentance, which is met with finding the Lord and His mercy and His righteousness (Hosea 10:12). For the purpose of doing such work in those whom He is saving, the Lord is fully willing to bring just and painful judgment upon the visible church (Hosea 10:14-15).

From where does your sin come, demanding God’s response? How do you respond when He brings chastening into your life?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have taken lightly our covenant with You. And in our church membership and worship, we have been in it primarily for ourselves. Whenever we have worshiped according to our own desires, we have thought of the house of our iniquity as if it were the house of God. Thus, we have gloried, spiritually, in that of which we should have been ashamed. But, You have given Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Who has been forsaken as entirely as we have deserved to be. For His sake, and by His grace, we pray that You would give us repentance. Take away the easy threshing that we would prefer, and give us whatever hard work is necessary until we sow righteousness, reap mercy, and seek You until You come and rain righteousness upon us in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Covenantally Chastened Churches [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 9:1–10:2]

How did God respond to Israel’s sin? Hosea 9:1–10:2 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God responded to Israel’s sin by removing from him all the blessings of the covenant. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 9:1–10:2

Read Hosea 9:1–10:2

Questions from the Scripture text: What isn’t Israel to do (Hosea 9:1)? Why not—what have they done? What will the Lord debilitate (Hosea 9:2)? Where won’t they dwell (Hosea 9:3)? Where will they go instead? What won’t they be permitted to do with their wine and grain (Hosea 9:4a–b)? What effect will this have on the rest of their consuming of grain (verse 4c–f)? What rhetorical question does Hosea 9:5 ask? Why is this such a question (Hosea 9:6)? What days have come (Hosea 9:7, Hosea 9:8)? What help don’t they have? Why not? How will God deal with them, and why (Hosea 9:9)? In what condition was Israel before the Lord adopted them (Hosea 9:10a–b)? But how did the Lord receive them (verse 10c–d)? And still how did they treat Him (verse 10e–g)? What is another way that the Lord will chasten them (Hosea 9:11-14, Hosea 9:16)? Even by making them to be like whom (Hosea 9:13)? What is the Lord’s disposition toward them (Hosea 9:15)? Why? Now what will He do? Why (Hosea 9:17)? For whom had Israel used their material blessings (Hosea 10:1)? And what did they multiply, as their blessings multiplied? How will God respond (Hosea 10:2)? 

How did God respond to Israel’s sin? Hosea 9:1–10:2 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God responded to Israel’s sin by removing from him all the blessings of the covenant. 

This passage consists of declaring Israel’s sentencing for breaking the covenant. The Lord will remove the blessings of their prosperity (Hosea 9:1-2), their holiness for worship (Hosea 9:3-6), their responsiveness to the Word of God (Hosea 9:7-9), and their fruitfulness to produce holy generations (Hosea 9:10-16). As they would not give Him their whole self, He will reject them, hold them guilty, and destroy the remnants of their wicked works (Hosea 9:17–10:2).

The Lord will remove their prosperity, Hosea 9:1-2. They thought that they were bringing forth fruit from themselves and for themselves (Hosea 10:1a–b), and therefore they have committed the adultery (Hosea 9:1) of attributing their prosperity to “God” as they imagine Him, and devoting it unto Him in their own way (Hosea 10:1c–e)—which Scripture repeatedly teaches us is to worship another god altogether. So the Lord will take away that prosperity (Hosea 9:2) that they neither enjoyed as from Him nor employed as for Him. What a blessing it is to receive everything as from the Lord and for the Lord. And if we do not, let us hope that the Lord will treat us like true children and afflict us in our material things.

The Lord will remove their holiness for worship, Hosea 9:3-6. They were a consecrated people, eating consecrated food, in a consecrated land. They offered to the Lord all of their first-fruits. From the same fields and vineyards came offerings for the Lord and food for their tables. Clean animals could only be slaughtered as sacrifices, with all of the blood and the fat being offered to God, and whatever meat they enjoyed coming from the portion that God “shared” with them in their offerings. But, they are now being removed from the consecrated land to the lands of the nations (Hosea 9:3a–b, Hosea 9:6). And they will eat from portions not consecrated to the Lord. In Assyria (Hosea 9:3c), even those things that come from clean animals will not have been consecrated as they were in the land. Their eating is going to be divorced from worship (Hosea 9:4). They will be unable to be a people consecrated unto the Lord’s worship (Hosea 9:5). 

What a blessing it is to live as worshipers of God! To know that the whole of our life flows into and out of drawing near to Him in the public worship on the Lord’s Day, so that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, that too is consecrated unto Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31). And what a curse it is when we cannot attend public worship, when we do not attend public worship, or when we do not either come to public worship in the right mindset or carry that devotion back home with us.

The Lord will remove their responsiveness to His Word, Hosea 9:7-9. Hosea 9:7 can mean either that their preachers and spiritual shepherds have fallen into the folly and insanity of false doctrine, or that they continue to have faithful preachers and shepherds, but they refuse to listen to them. Either one would be consistent with judgments that we see elsewhere in Scripture, but it is probably the first one. For, “Israel knows.” They know that the days of punishment have come, and the days of recompense have come. But as is often the case when a faithful preacher sounds the solemn warning, the people treat him as if he is a fool or a madman. Their “enmity” enters the house of God (Hosea 9:8c), and because of their response, the faithful preaching (verse v8a) becomes to them not a help but a snare (verse 8b). Isaiah and Hosea were preaching that if the Lord were not leaving them a remnant, they would be altogether destroyed. But the people rejected their, and the other latter prophets’, preaching. May the Lord ever give us submissiveness to the “strange” preaching of His Word, so that we are corrected and grown by it—rather than concluding that the preacher is stupid or crazy. 

The Lord will remove their fruitfulness to produce holy generations, Hosea 9:10-16. The language of the Lord finding them in the wilderness refers back to His constituting them a church upon gathering them out of Egypt. Though they were wild/sour grapes (Hosea 9:10a–b), in His eyes (and provision), that generation were the very first sweet figs of a great harvest to come in succeeding generations (verse 10c–d). But before even the next generation could be reared, Israel’s long history of spiritual adultery had already begun (verse 10d–e, cf. Numbers 25:1–3). So the great covenant blessing of His being God to them and their children would be a place in which they would be particularly afflicted (Hosea 9:11, Hosea 9:12, Hosea 9:13, Hosea 9:14, Hosea 9:16). This same grievous chastening comes to congregations today. Either they do not bear children, or their children die young, or their children suffer the spiritual slaughter of wandering away from God, and either into “churches” with false worship/ doctrine or no church at all. When this happens, it is not time for a revamped youth program or “livelier” worship, but for repentance!

The Lord rejects them altogether, Hosea 9:17–10:2. Hosea 9:17 summarizes the sentence, and Hosea 10:1 summarizes the offense. Hosea 10:2 describes it in relational and covenantal terms. Rather than loving YHWH, their God, with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, their heart has been divided. They are guilty not merely of rule infractions, but of rejecting God Himself. And He will destroy the remnants of their sin. God give you, dear reader, to see sin not merely as a rule infraction, but as that hateful rejection of your own covenant God, which rejection you yourself hate with all your heart—just as you love Him with all your heart.

How do you view and use the good things that God has given you? How much do you value being able to gather for public worship? How does it bear out in your life that you value the faithful preaching of the Word? How does the fruit of the womb as a covenant blessing shape your desire/approach/effort to marriage and bearing/rearing children?  

Sample prayer: Lord, we have treated Your good gifts as if they are from us. And we have indulged ourselves in them apart from glorifying You or enjoying You. We deserve to have all our good gifts taken away. And, we have not heeded the faithful preaching of Your Word. Forgive us, and don’t permit for our preaching to become foolish and unfaithful. Our generation has often failed to conduct ourselves as belonging to You, and we deserve for the next generation to perish, rather than belonging to You. So, forgive us, we pray! Do not reject us or cast us out of Your presence. For, Your Son has been forsaken in our place, for our sin, so that we may receive as He deserves. Give us according to Christ’s worthiness, and according to the love in which You gave Him to be ours, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Empty Religion and Politics [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 8]

Why didn’t Israel’s worship please God? Hosea 8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is possible for a nation or a church that professes to know the Lord to be entirely self-seeking in what they think is genuinely offered unto Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 8

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 ▫ Read Hosea 8

Questions from the Scripture text: What order is given in v1a? What is the enemy doing (v1b)? Why (v1c–d)? What will Israel cry in that day (v2)? But what has overruled this claim (v3)? What was wrong with their civil government (v4a–b)? And with their religion (v4c–e)? How did the Lord respond to this (v5)? Why (v6)? What will come of their efforts (v7)? Nd what will come of them (v8)? Where had they sought help (v9a–b)? How does v9c describe this? But what will the Lord yet do for them (v10a–b)? After putting them through what (v10c–d)? What has Ephraim done (v11)? Even though the Lord had provided him with what (v12)? What procedure were they following (v13a)? But with what response from YHWH (v13b–c)? And what action (v13d)? Why—what is the substance of what Israel has done (v14a)? By doing what (v14b)? And what has Judah hoped in, that won’t save them (v14c–e)?

Why didn’t Israel’s worship please God? Hosea 8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is possible for a nation or a church that professes to know the Lord to be entirely self-seeking in what they think is genuinely offered unto Him.

The announcement, v1–4. The urgency of it in v1. The horn is easy to identify—it’s the call to arms to defend against attack.  And the devastation is coming like an eagle.  The Hebrew of v1 is so short and cut off that you can almost hear the messenger huffing and puffing out of breath, as he has caught the first glimpse of the coming invasion.  And it’s coming fast.  When the eagle begins his dive, there’s no hope for the pray.  He’s too fast, and too strong.  So it will be for Israel: by the time they realize that the hour of discipline has come, it will be too late, and nothing can stop it.

The surprise of it in v2 (Israel thought they were orthodox!).  After all we have read in Hosea about Israel’s heart, 8:2 may come as a real surprise—Israel thinks they are godly.  “How can this happen to me, when I have a relationship with God?,” they ask.  This response reminds us of what Yahweh has been saying all along: that Israel is so blind to her sin—her depending upon and being in love with everything and everyone except Yahweh—that He is going to have to rock her world for her to open her eyes.  The shock and surprise of Israel’s response here shows us that this is exactly the case.  When we respond like this, it may be an indication of similar spiritual blindness.

The tragedy of it in v3 (they rejected the good—not just to do good but to receive good). So, now they get the other option, v3.  It is tempting to read v3 and think, “See?  If they had only done good instead of evil…” but that is not the sense of the text.  The text is even more tragic than that.  It is saying, “Look at all the good I have done for them, and still they have rejected Me!  They had all of these blessings handed to them, and they have rejected the good blessings and chosen the curses instead.”  We must always keep the good things that God has done for us on our minds, so that we remember them and respond with faithfulness to Him.  Let it not be said of us that He did so much good for us, and still we rejected Him.

They rejected the good by keeping the Lord out of their politics, v4a.  Israel’s secular life was completely divorced from the Lord.  They did not consult Him or credit Him for any of their national or political decisions.  When we live our “secular” lives completely independently of Him—not making decisions according to His Word, not depending on Him for wisdom and guidance in prayer, not doing everything for His glory, not giving Him praise and thanks when things go well—how can we possibly expect Him to continue to bless us?

They rejected the good by keeping the Lord out of their worship, v4b.  In particular, the gratitude and praise of their hearts went to their money.  When talking about carved idols, wood and stone are usually primary and almost always included.  The limitation of this statement to silver and gold tells us that Yahweh is talking about wealth.  They trusted their wealth, and thanked and praised their wealth; when, they should have been trusting, thanking, and praising Yahweh.

The Worship Problem—the Rejected Calf, v5–7. The stupidity of manmade worship, v6a.  You can just hear the exasperation in this human way of speaking: “I told them how to worship Me and they still got it wrong.  What am I ever going to do with them?!” The vanity of manmade worship, v6b–7. (1) Manmade worship up as rubble, v6b.  Man-made worship cannot last, because all earthly things eventually return to dust.  This is both literal (in the case of the calves used in worship in the northern kingdom) and metaphorical (of anything we might add to or invent for worship). (2) Manmade worship is like blowing wind… and receives the same response, v7a.  Worship that we invent ourselves is empty of substance; it’s silly and stupid and pointless.  The image is of a guy out in his field, throwing fistfuls at the ground, but what is he throwing?  Air.  So, he’ll get air back… in the form of storm-wind, a tornado.  Empty worship isn’t a neutral thing; it ultimately deserves and receives the wrath of God. (3) Manmade worship has no substance to it; it’s useless, v7b.  God promises that man-made worship will have no fruit.  (4) Even if manmade worship seems to have substance, its substance is for strangers, not for the Lord, v7c.  Even any fruit that it does seem to have will benefit only others, but not the worshippers (or, to use the metaphor, the sowers).

The Political Problem, v8–10. The lack of the separateness of God’s people.  God is holy.  His people must be holy.  But Israel has been “swallowed up” (v8a).   You can’t tell the difference between them and anyone else.  How can God rightly take special delight in them, if they are not special and different?  If we are the people of a Holy God, we must be a holy people; the difference between a believer and an unbeliever should clear and crisp. The result is that the Lord will gather them into another nation, where He will bring them low (v10). Their infidelity with other nations will be a costly one.  It will cost them their nation, their pride, their power, and their glory.  If His people cannot be faithful to the Lord in liberty and dignity, He is willing to put us to shame in order to bring us to faithfulness.

The Primary Problem—the Arithmetic of Worship, vv11-13. What they multiplied—the altar was what was central to their worship, v11.  The form worship was the thing for Ephraim.  Rather than worship being all about God and His Word, for Ephraim it is all about the act of worship, the experience of it.  Ephraim made for himself worship that he liked, and he multiplied it.  And this emphasis on the act and experience made his worship itself a sin.

What the Lord multiplied—the law should be central to worship, v12.  The same root word is used in both verses. While Ephraim was busy multiplying altars, the Lord was multiplying His law.  The problem is that Ephraim didn’t find dwelling upon the law of God very worshipful.  “It just doesn’t give me the same feeling,” Ephraim might have said… “it’s strange to me—it leaves me cold.”

Worship had become an excuse for pot-luck luncheon, v13a.  Why did Ephraim worship?  Because of what they would get out of it for themselves: some very nice roast mutton and barbecued ribs.  They did not come to worship in order that Yahweh might delight in it; they came in order that they might delight in it.  Truly, we ought to delight in worship, but this is only a secondary benefit, a happy accident to the main purpose: to give Yahweh something in which He delights.

Multiplying the wrong thing in worship was the last straw—now they will “return to Egypt”, v13b.  Sometimes, the only way for Yahweh to get His people’s attention is to return them to the level of misery of being unconverted.  “You want life and worship to be all about you?  Fine.  Let me remind you what life is like when it’s all about you.”

The Conclusion: though the Lord’s people forget Him, still He will “spark” their memory, v14.  Israel and Judah were all about “their own lives”—their own pleasure and glory, earthly and temporal stuff like palaces and city walls.  When they forgot the Lord, He decided to “spark” their memories by burning up the very things that they were all about (v14d–e). Sometimes, the church’s religion requires wrath. If His people are unfaithful to give the right worship, yet God will be faithful to chasten His them for it.

What parts of your life are in danger of being treated as “secular”? What is worship “about” for you?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how we have forgotten You in every area of life. Grant the ministry of Your Spirit, along with whatever else is necessary, to bring us to repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Why We Need Another Adam [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 6:4–7:16]

What remedy is there for those who are like Adam? Hosea 6:4–7:16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our own repenting is so riddled with sin like Adam, that our only hope is another Adam, the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 6:4–7:16

Read Hosea 6:4–7:16

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does v4a address? Whom does Hosea 6:4b address? What does the Lord ask each of them? Why (verse 4b–c)? How has the Lord responded to this fickleness (Hosea 6:5)? What does He desire, as compared to what (Hosea 6:6)? But what have Israel and Judah done (Hosea 6:7)? Like whom? Who are involved in what sin in Hosea 6:8-9? Whom does the Lord condemn in Hosea 6:10-11? What happened at what time in Hosea 7:1a–c? What wickedness, specifically, was uncovered (verse 1d–f)? What did they fail to consider (Hosea 7:2)? But whom did they please (Hosea 7:3)? To what do Hosea 7:4-7 describe the preparation and intensity of their sinning? What, especially, led to this level of sin (Hosea 7:8-9)? With what results? And yet, what did they still not do (Hosea 7:10)? To whom did they turn instead (Hosea 7:11)? But why will this fail (Hosea 7:12)? What have they done to Whom (Hosea 7:13)? Despite His doing what? What was lacking in their crying, wailing “repentance” (Hosea 7:14a–b)? When thy gathered for worship, what were they really gathering for (verse 14c)? So that they were really doing what (verse 14d)? How did they repay God’s doing what (Hosea 7:15)? What was lacking in their repentance in Hosea 7:16a–b? With what result (verse 16c–e)? 

What remedy is there for those who are like Adam? Hosea 6:4–7:16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our own repenting is so riddled with sin like Adam, that our only hope is another Adam, the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was much good to be said for the form of repentance in Hosea 6:1–3. Sadly, the Lord evaluates it as short-lived (Hosea 6:4). Their fickleness has been the reason that He has sent prophet after prophet with words that had to cut (Hosea 6:5). The externals of religion are no substitute for a truly transformed heart (Hosea 6:6).

That is just the issue: our need for a transformed heart. Like He did for Adam, the Lord had given Israel every possible advantage. But like Adam did to Him, they betrayed Him and violated His covenant with them (Hosea 6:7; n.b. it is “like Adam” not “like men”). 

Indeed, some of His good gifts were themselves twisted or perverted into spiritual harm, rather than spiritual help. Why wasn’t the priesthood a help against the violence of Gilead (Hosea 6:8)? Because the priests themselves were committing murder and lewdness (Hosea 6:9)! Why wasn’t civil government a deterrent to their sin? Because the capital city itself was one of wickedness, fraud, theft, and robbery (Hosea 7:1), so that people did not please the king or princes by doing what is good, but rather with wickedness and lies (v3). Indeed, they were so bent on pleasing men with their wickedness, that they completely neglected that they should have been doing what pleases the Lord before His own face (Hosea 7:2). 

They had so perfected their craft, that they were like expert bakers, keeping the oven of the heart continuously ready to turn out loaves of sin (Hosea 7:4-7). And the crowning factor was their mixing with the peoples and foreigners (v8–9), so that they had spent their lives in sinning without even realizing that their strength was gone, and their hair was gray (Hosea 7:8-9). 

Yet, not only did they fail to turn to YHWH (Hosea 7:10), but they actually turned to Egypt and Assyria instead (Hosea 7:11). Since they’re acting like bird-brains (verse 11), the Lord will trap them like birds, just as His Word has said (Hosea 7:12). Their wickedness has not merely been against a moral standard but personally against the Lord Himself (Hosea 7:13). Even their weeping repentance didn’t include the actual turning of the heart toward God (Hosea 7:14a–b), and even their religious services were no about submitting to the Lord as much as they were about enjoying grain and new wine (verse 14c–d). Their turning was not to the Lord Who had helped them (Hosea 7:15-16b), so their punishment would be sure and severe (Hosea 7:16c–e). 

What a dreadful thing our sinful natures are, so that even our repenting and worshiping are so corrupted as to be offensive to God! We are, indeed, just like our first father, Adam, in whom we sinned, and like unto whom we now sin. This is why we have so desperately needed a righteous priest, a righteous king, and the new and last Adam: our Lord Jesus Christ. All that is in Him, and from Him in us, is pleasing unto the Lord. Only in Him can we escape dreadful and permanent disaster!

How can your repenting be acceptable to God? How does this inform the way that you come to God? How does it inform the way that you worship? What are you seeking from Jesus that He would do in you? How do you remember that you are before God’s face? How do you maintain your heart unto Him?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how fickle and short-lived our repentance often is. Grant that we would bring You not only the externals of religion, but mercy and sacrifice. Grant to us to be in Your Son, our Lord Jesus, as the last Adam. And just as He has kept Your covenant for us, make us also to be covenant-keepers like He is. Give us leadership in the church and the state that help us to remember that we are before Your face. And forgive us for when we have been forgetful of You. Forgive us also for when, rather than being careful to keep our hearts turned toward You, we have actually been like bakers who keep the ovens of our hearts hot for making loaves of sin. Indeed, O Lord, all our sin is a wicked treachery against You, and deserves great and permanent punishment. So, forgive us for the sake of Christ, and conform us to His image, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

The Lion Who Tears and Heals Us [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 5:1–6:3]

How severe is the Lord’s chastening of His people? Hosea 5:1–6:3 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord chastens His people as severely as necessary for forcing them to turn to Him Himself for healing.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 5:1–6:3

Read Hosea 5:1–6:3

Questions from the Scripture text: What three groups are addressed in Hosea 5:1a–c? What are they urged to do? Why—what is theirs (verse 1d)? Why—what have they done/been (verse 1e–f)? What have they been involved in (Hosea 5:2a)? What will YHWH do (verse 2b)? What does He know about whom (Hosea 5:3)? What do they not direct toward what (Hosea 5:4a–b)? What is in their midst (verse 4c)? Whom do they not know (verse 4d)? Who stumble, in/due to what (Hosea 5:5)? What will they “do” in Hosea 5:6a–b (cf. Hosea 5:4a–b; Exodus 10:9)? With what success (Hosea 5:6c)? Why (verse 6d)? What have they done (Hosea 5:7a)? In what manner (verse 7b)? So, what will their worship do to them (verse 7c)? Where will the alarms be sounded (Hosea 5:8)? Who else will be devastated (Hosea 5:9)? Whose princes were doing what (Hosea 5:10a)? How will YHWH respond (verse 10b)? To what extent (cf. Hosea 5:12)? What is one form this wrath will take (Hosea 5:11a)? Why is the Lord doing this (verse 11b)? To whom will Ephraim and Judah first turn in their distress (Hosea 5:13a–d)? With what effect (verse 13e–f)? Why won’t these be able to help them (Hosea 5:14)? What will this force them into (Hosea 5:15)? What will the logic of their seeking Him be (Hosea 6:1)? What will He do (Hosea 6:2)? Unto what end (verse 2c)? What do they urge one another to do (Hosea 6:3a–b)? Why—how strong and faithful is He (verse 3c–e)?

How severe is the Lord’s chastening of His people? Hosea 5:1–6:3 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord chastens His people as severely as necessary for forcing them to turn to Him Himself for healing.

Complete judgment, Hosea 5:1-12. Most of our passage is concerned with the massive scope of the judgment. 

The judgment will be upon all classes of people (Hosea 5:1-4). The clergy and bureaucrats are named specifically. With leadership comes increased responsibility and guilt. However, sandwiched between the two we find the entire house of Israel, the general population. The “you” is plural. The reason all these classes of people are to pay attention to what is coming is because the judgment is for all of them. God’s justice is equal-opportunity.

The judgment will be upon both kingdoms (Hosea 5:5). That Judah is specifically included is important because of the seeming protection of Judah as the covenant people toward the end of chapter 4. The unity of north and south in their punishment should not surprise us, however, because the first few chapters had already introduced the idea of their having both been guilty—and that God’s plan for their restoration included a plan for reconciling them to one another.

The judgment will be complete and certain (Hosea 5:6-12). They won’t be able to find Him anywhere (Hosea 5:6). Their devastation will be the very picture of certainty (Hosea 5:9). Note here that judgment is described in terms of an inability to find YHWH in their seeking. There is no greater chastening, discipline, or trial for a covenant people than being cut of from fellowship with the covenant God—even when they have not properly desired that fellowship! Though we disregard Him (Hosea 5:12), He is what we must have.

Where help cannot be found, Hosea 5:13. This is just one, small verse, but it really stands on its own in the passage. The people recognize their infirmities, and seek out the aid of various secular sources, but there is no help to be found in any of them. When we as believers find ourselves hurting, where do we turn? Do we examine ourselves and turn to YHWH as sinners, or do we seek first another solution that seems as if it could rationally offer us some help?

Why none else can help: the Lion Who tears, Hosea 5:14-15a. The image is strong. It is of a lion (two different words for lion are used here) tearing its prey limb from limb and carrying it off to enjoy it. This has at least two primary implications: the death is gory and final, and the carcass is irrecoverable. The image of the exile comes with fearful violence and finality!

Who alone can help: the Lion Who heals, Hosea 5:15-16:3. 

The purpose of the tearing (Hosea 5:15b). Though there is great finality of judgment through verse 15a, verse 15b clues us in that this finality is not permanent. This brutal attack has a purpose: to cause YHWH’s people to seek Him. Indeed, we find that His discipline in our daily lives has the same purpose (cf. Hebrews 12). On a grander scale, the most brutal of deaths was endured to ensure the reconciliation of covenant God to covenant people. The final statement of the chapter is plain vanilla indicative in the Hebrew, just a matter of fact. Yahweh declares that His people will seek Him.

The certainty of the tearing’s success (Hosea 5:15-16:1). As soon as YHWH speaks it (Hosea 5:15b), we have the very “seeking” (Hosea 6:1) of which He speaks. The response itself will take years, even generations. But it is reported immediately as an indication of how certain it is to come.

The description of the tearing’s success (Hosea 6:1–3). Note their twofold reasoning as they repent: YHWH is the only one who can help, and that it is certain that He will. If it is YHWH who has torn, then it must be YHWH who heals. The language of Hosea 6:2 implies that only One Who has resurrection power will be able to heal them from such death as has come upon them. This is how every believer feels as he comes to the Lord. 

Finally, there is a theme of certainty in this passage. It began with Yahweh’s judgment as the very definition of certainty, but it ends with His grace as certain as the dawn. “His going forth is established as the morning (Hosea 6:3c). Through the One Whose violent death and third-day-resurrection are hinted at in this very passage, God’s grace is certain for His people.

What are some situations from which it was painfully evident that you needed divine power and mercy to rescue you? Who brough you into those circumstances? Why? From what ultimate/great trouble, inflicted by the Lord, is He the only true hope of rescue/healing? Is He YOUR hope in this?

Sample prayer: Lord, like Israel and Judah, our guilt has been complete, and we deserve complete wrath. How much of our life has been lived apart from knowing You, and even rejecting to know You. At times, even when we have made effort and appearance to seek You, yet we did not direct our deeds toward turning to our God. So we thank You for that severe kindness in which You have afflicted us so that we might know that only You can heal us. Forgive us, however, when we have turned to other things for that healing. How grievous our sin can be! And thank You that You made us to find healing only in You Yourself. Truly, You have given that healing in Christ. So, we praise You and thank You and look to You for all forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus Christ, through Whom we also now pray, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace” 

Saved from Popular Worship [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 4:11–19]

How does grace respond to the stubborn sinners whom it is redeeming? Hosea 4:11–19 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that grace constrains those whom it is redeeming by making them ashamed of the very sin that they once loved and were proud of.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 4:11–19

Read Hosea 4:11–19

Questions from the Scripture text: Against what things does Hosea 4:11 warn? Whose are the people in Hosea 4:12? But from whom do they ask counsel (verse 12a)? Or get information (verse 12b)? What does verse 12c call this, and what has it done to them? What have they done (verse 12d)? How are “harlotry” worship decision made (Hosea 4:13a–d)? What has this spiritual harlotry resulted in (Hosea 4:13-14b)? And to what was the harlotry of the daughters and wives a response (Hosea 4:14c–d)? What will be the outcome of this spiritual, and actual, harlotry (verse 14e)? To whom does Hosea 4:15a–b especially present this as a warning? What other aspects of Israel’s false worship are described in Hosea 4:15c–e)? How does Hosea 4:16a–b now describe Israel? And how do verse 16c–d describe YHWH’s response? What reversal does Hosea 4:17 command? How do they feel about their rebellion, harlotry, and dishonor (Hosea 4:18)? In what will a spirit (NKJ “wind”) wrap Israel up (Hosea 4:19)? And what will they be brought to think of their sacrifices?

How does grace respond to the stubborn sinners whom it is redeeming? Hosea 4:11–19 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that grace constrains those whom it is redeeming by making them ashamed of the very sin that they once loved and were proud of.

The Ultimate Seeker-Friendly Church, Hosea 4:11-14. The line between physical fornication in cult ritual and spiritual fornication against YHWH is blurred in these verses. It is difficult to know which is being described when. However, the picture is clear: the mixing of true worship with man’s desires, in the north, is just a whole lot more “fun” than sticking to YHWH’s own prescribed methods of worship. After all, the Reformed Church of YHWH in Jerusalem doesn’t offer such community ministries as happy hour in the fellowship hall or a ritual harlotry after morning worship. They even decide where to hold services by selecting whatever location is most convenient and enjoyable—“The shade is good.” Attendance at this contemporary service is apparently so good, that the men enjoy so much harlotry that their daughters and wives become harlots elsewhere. 

Charge to the Faithful, Hosea 4:15. With such an attractive church nearby, it is necessary to charge the members of the Reformed Church of YHWH (see above) not to cross over and make the very short trek to Bethel or Gilgal to attend services, even though those services might be held “in the Name of YHWH.” Those in more biblical churches (in this case, Judah) may be tempted to follow the methods of those who have achieved greater popularity or desirability to men. But one of the reasons for the public judgment of Israel/Ephraim (the northern kingdom) is as a caution to Judah (the south).

Grace Wins, Hosea 4:16. After the interruption of Hosea 4:15, YHWH declares His intentions of grace once more. We have seen the amazing logic of grace in the first three chapters, but the picture here is so stark, it is still hard to swallow. Even some the best English translations change the second half of Hosea 4:16 to a rhetorical question to try to negate it, although there is no evidence in the text. In the text, however, it is a statement. Precisely because Israel is stubborn as a calf, YHWH will show the greatness of His power by restoring them to His sheep. Because we are sinners, He glorifies Himself in overcoming our sin’s guilt, power, and consequences.

The Mechanism of Grace, Hosea 4:17-19. Here we see how grace works. Since they are united to their idols, YHWH orders that they be caused to rest alone. He will remove them from that to which they are joined, to make them to be by themselves (Hosea 4:17). Even separated from the revelry of the false worship, they continue to fornicate against YHWH (Hosea 4:18). They are determined in their infidelity and shame. Yet, a spirit (NKJ, “wind,” Hosea 4:19) shall bind them. 

The chapter ends with grace—the simple statement that they will be ashamed. Though they are determined to enjoy shame, His determination toward grace makes it inevitable that they will be ashamed of it. It is not good when we can sin shamelessly. Grace will make us ashamed of it, as it made Israel ashamed of their sacrifices.

Would you like to have worship decisions made according to what seems pleasant to men? Why or why not? When do you need to remind yourself of that the most? What does this passage warn you against, in thinking of more “popular” churches? Why would grace choose to operate upon you? Of what might you need to be ashamed?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for just as with harlotry and alcoholism, we have even thought of worship in terms of how we could indulge ourselves. And, even when we have been more faithful, like Judah, we have been jealous of those whose worship is more popular, as Israel’s was. We are sinners. Just as you did with Israel, the stubborn calf, overcome and overrule our sin by Your grace. Don’t permit us to be happy with our sin, but constrain us, like those being wrapped with wings, and make us ashamed of all our sin. Thus, make us to turn from it to You, by Your Spirit, we ask through Your Son, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Guilty of Not Knowing God [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 4:1–10]

What does forgetfulness of God deserve? Hosea 4:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that forgetfulness of God deserves to be forgotten and given over our sin, but God is gracious when, rather than giving us over to our sin, He frustrates us in our pursuit of it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 4:1–10

Read Hosea 4:1-10

Questions from the Scripture text: What is commanded in Hosea 4:1a? Who is commanded (verse 1b)? What is He speaking, that they must hear (verse 1c)? What two things re missing (verse 1d)? Why—what else is missing (verse 1e)? What five habits demonstrate this (Hosea 4:2a–b)? Which is especially unchecked (verse 2c–d)? Therefore, what will mourn (Hosea 4:3a)? And who will waste away (verse 3b)? And what (verse 3c–e)? What mustn’t anyone do (Hosea 4:4a)? Why, what are they like (verse 4b)? So who stumbles, even when (Hosea 4:5a)? And even who stumbles (verse 5b)? And what will the Lord do to whom (verse 5c)? Why are the people being destroyed (Hosea 4:6a)? How have they come to the point where they do not know Him (verse 6b)? How will the Lord respond (verse 6c)? What have they forgotten (verse 6d)? Whom will He forget (verse 6e)? What had God done for them (Hosea 4:7a)? And what did they respond by doing to Him (verse 7b)? So, what will He now do to them (verse 7c)? What do they eat up (Hosea 4:8a)? Upon what do they set their heart (verse 8b)? Who will share in the same response from God (Hosea 4:9)? What will He take from them (Hosea 4:10a)? What will He frustrate (verse 10b)? Why (verse 10c)?#

What does forgetfulness of God deserve? Hosea 4:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that forgetfulness of God deserves to be forgotten and given over our sin, but God is gracious when, rather than giving us over to our sin, He frustrates us in our pursuit of it.

The Court Calls to Order, Hosea 4:1a. The first half of the verse appears small and insignificant. This is all the more reason to draw it out on its own. Otherwise, we might miss what a grave thing is going on here. What will follow is not news-reporting. It is not even “point of view” at the end of the news cast. These are not social comments made by an appalled, upstanding citizen. This is the Word of Yahweh, and He begins by declaring that there is a formal dispute between Himself and the people.

The Charges Read, Hosea 4:1b. The words translated “truth” and “mercy” have a much broader meaning. Most importantly, they are two singular attributes of YHWH. The “knowing” here has at least three aspects. We are quite familiar with objective knowledge, knowing about something. There is also personal, intimate knowledge, seen in its most intense example when the word is used to describe marital intimacy—a use made frequently in Scripture and not to be ignored in this context, where YHWH is Israel’s husband. Thirdly, the verse gives a sense that knowledge of YHWH (or the lack of it) may be equated to imaging His own character.

The Evidence Brought Forth, Hosea 4:2. Here we see what the evidence of not knowing YHWH looks like. When we speak of “just wanting to know” Him, let us remember that such knowledge involves not so much mystical, sentimental experience, but rather eradication of sin.

The Judgment Pronounced, Hosea 4:3. The penalty for lack of knowledge, and rampant violence (Hosea 4:2c–d, cf. Genesis 6:11) is complete and utter destruction. The intentional highlighting of the destruction of fish may be meant to declare that this destruction will be greater even than that in the time of Noah, when the fish were preserved. There is no greater sin, and no greater judgment, than to fail to know the Lord (cf. Romans 1:21, 2 Thessalonians 1:8).

A Reminder of Man’s Place, Hosea 4:4-5. People are not in a place to argue with God (cf. Romans 9:20-21). Yet, the people are like a priest who instead argues with Yahweh. He should be a mediator between others and YHWH, but he contends with the Lord instead. How instinctively our flesh bristles against providence, or God’s Word, or sound doctrine. We are so easily contentions. May the Lord give us sweet, gentle humility toward Himself.

A Reminder of the Covenant, Hosea 4:6-7. In Hosea 4:6, all the “you”s are singular. YHWH is speaking to Israel as if they were a priest (continuing the metaphor begun in Hosea 4:4). We have two explicit covenant references. First, Israel was to be the mediator of God’s grace for all nations by virtue of the Abrahamic covenant (Hosea 4:6c, cf. Genesis 12:3). Second, remembering the Law (Hosea 4:6d) was an explicit, covenant command, and the blessing of descendants the most basic covenant blessing (Hosea 4:6e). The command is transgressed, and the blessing is revoked. Finally, grievously, Deuteronomy 8:18-19 has come to pass. It is a great privilege and blessing to be God’s covenant people, who draw near to Him as priests. Let us not take it for granted or squander it.

Grace in Judgment, Hosea 4:8-10. The image of v8a is of a people who sustain themselves with evil, desiring it like food, and then are even gluttonous for it. The same verdicts declared against the priest in Hosea 4:4-7 are now declared to apply to the people in Hosea 4:9, making clear that Israel as a whole was that priest. Yet, Hosea 4:10 is really a word of grace. YHWH will frustrate their desires, which is chastening, but not judgment! Instead of giving them over to their sin (which would be judgment indeed), YHWH declares that He will frustrate their sin.  What is the reason for this grace? That it was Himself Whom they had forsaken. This seems like strange logic to us, but His relationship with them is so important to Him, that rather than give them over to sin, He will frustrate their efforts. May the Lord so do to you, with your sins, dear reader.

In what times and ways are you most prone to forgetfulness of God? What use do you make of your privilege of drawing near to Him and interceding for others? How has He frustrated your sin? (or, more alarmingly, how has He permitted you to persist in it?)

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have been like Israel in Hosea’s day, failing to image Your faithfulness and steadfast love. Rather than knowing You in all our ways, we have often been forgetful of You. We ought to draw near to You in sweet submission, but instead we have stiffened our necks against Your Word and providence. We have deserved to be forgotten, together with our children. Do not give us over to our sin, we pray, but frustrate all our sinful pursuits. Forgive us, and restore us to repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”