3 Lessons from the Book of Hosea

The book of Hosea is a picture of Christ's enduring love for the church. Here are three lessons we can learn from the book of Hosea. #Biblestudy #Hosea #WomensBibleStudy #GoodMorningGirls

Today the Good Morning Girls complete their study in the book of Hosea!!!  That means tomorrow we go on break through the month of May.  Our next Bible Study will begin on Monday, June 8th. I can’t wait to share more details about our summer study here on the blog in mid-May. ????


Now let’s finish out our study by taking a look at 3 Lessons we learn from the book of Hosea.

3 Lessons From the book of Hosea

1.) God is faithful to his people, even when they are unfaithful.

In the book of Hosea, God uses Hosea’s marriage to represent his love for his people.  Hosea’s wife was unfaithful. She continually ran from Hosea and forgot about his loving care for her. She chased other lovers but Hosea went after her and brought her home.

We are so much like Hosea’s wife when we chase after the things of this world rather than chasing God.  God loves us and intimately cares for us, provides for us, protects us and is completely faithful to us.

Hosea didn’t ask his wife to change – to earn his love, but rather his love for her was meant to change her.  That is how Jesus Christ loves us!  Jesus did not say – clean yourself up and get your life on track to earn my love.  Instead, he says I love you so much, I died on the cross for your sins. Don’t reject my love.  Give me your heart –your whole heart.

Does God have your whole heart?

2.) God disciplines his people when they are unfaithful.

Israel had been unfaithful to God and rejected Him and replaced him with pagan idols.  They had sown to the wind and God warned them that they would reap a whirlwind of judgement.  But they refused to listen and continued to sow to the wind.  Their sowing was slow over many years, but when God’s judgement came, it was swift – like a whirlwind.  But even in their sin, if they would turn back and sow righteousness, steadfast love and seek the Lord, God would bless them.  But instead they continued to trust in their own way and harden their hearts.

Divine discipline follows the law of sowing and reaping. 

If we sow bad decisions in our lives, we will suffer.  Sometimes we might be tempted to think that we can get away with doing wrong, but God always sees and knows.  Eventually, it does catch up with us.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:7-9)

3.  God has a deep affection for his people.

The final chapter of Hosea is a beautiful chapter in the Old Testament.  It reveals the loving heart of God, as his people experience his mercy, love, blessings and complete restoration after a time of discipline and judgement.  God has a deep affection for his people. He compares his people to the beauty of a lily, the strength of the roots of a tree, the value of the olive, and the delightful fragrance of Lebanon.

It was not their sin that was bringing discipline but rather their refusal to repent of their sin, that was leading to discipline.  But God took no pleasure in knowing that they would face judgement. He promised to leave a remnant to restore them because of his deep affection for them.  In the end, the fame of Israel is restored as God promises to look after them and be like an evergreen cypress, providing fruitfulness to them.


In Conclusion:

In the book of Hosea, we see that we serve a God of love AND a God of wrath.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the wrathful side of God.  I am so thankful that God loved the world so much that he sent his only son Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, so that we would not have to face the wrath of God.  No sin is beyond his forgiveness.

Our God is full of compassion and he loves you deeply.

The final words of Hosea 14 tell us,

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

Those who are wise, understand these things and whoever is discerning, knows them.  For the ways of the Lord are right and the upright walk in them, but those who decide to continue in their sin, will stumble.

May we be wise and discerning and walk upright all of the days of our lives.

God is forever faithful to us.

For God SO loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

Keep walking with the King,

 

 

Thank you for taking this journey through Hosea with me. It has been a blessing to study alongside of you!

**Chime In**

What have you learned during your time in the book of Hosea?

 

 

 


What’s next?

Our next study will begin on Monday, June 8th.
More details and resources for this study will be posted on the blog in May.


If you are looking to do a Bible Study during our break here’s a few I recommend:

Ecclesiastes – Wisdom for Living Well
A 6-Week In-depth Bible Study with a Free Video Series

With over 150 5-Star Reviews on Amazon – this is my most popular Bible Study!  It is a  verse-by-verse in-depth study of the book of Ecclesiastes. You can find all of the free resources for this study along with the video series —-> HERE.


Ruth – God’s Amazing Love for You
A 5-Week In-depth Bible Study with a Free Video Series

This is my second most popular study.  It is a verse-by verse, in-depth study of the book of Ruth.
You can find all of the free resources for this study along with the video series —> HERE.


Rest and Release
A 4-Week Bible Study with a Free Video Series

You can find all of its resources and the free video seres —–> HERE.


Other books of the Bible

You can find all of the books of the Bible we have already studied together and the free resources to go along with those studies on this page —–> HERE.

I encourage you to pick a book of the Bible and study it on your own and I’ll be back in April to study a new one with you!



Find the Printable versions of the
Top 10 Women Living Well Bible Studies

Half Off —-> HERE!

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7 Comments

  1. Thank you for this study in Hosea, it reminds me and I need that often how my savior loves me so much. I need Him every second of my day to carry me through the rough spots when I let my guard down.
    When I was a new believer no one told me about spiritual warfare and for years I suffered till finally heard from a Pastor about putting on the armor of God, what an eye opener to realize God has left me with protection against the enemy. Bless you!

  2. Hi Courtney,
    This was a great study, thank you for organising it. I learned a great deal and was chewing it over in my own mind when I stumbled across an edition of “Help me teach the Bible” by Nancy Guthrie, where she interviews Rev David Murray on getting the deep truths from this very book. I hope it’s ok if I share the link here, as the podcast was fantastic: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/help-me-teach-the-bible/david-murray-on-teaching-hosea/

  3. Thanks for this very timely study, Courtney. His faithfulness is truly astounding, and it is something we can hold on to in these difficult seasons of life. ???? blessings to you and your family

  4. questions:
    1. In what way does God desire to interact with people?
    2. The way God desires for people to respond to Him?
    Thank you.

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