Sabbath: Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma
Read for This Week’s Study: Hos. 7:11-12, 10:11-13, Matt. 11:28-30, Rom. 5:8, 1 Pet. 2:24, Hosea 14.
Memory Text: “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always” (Hosea 12:6, NIV).
Key Thought: Hosea reveals more of God’s love for His wayward people.
A common way in which biblical authors talk about God’s love relationship with His people is by using metaphors. A metaphor conveys something profound about a lesser known subject through something that is already known or familiar. Metaphors are symbols, used to explain something other than themselves.
The two most commonly used biblical metaphors regarding God’s relationship with His people are husband-wife and parent-child metaphors. Last week we looked at the husband-wife metaphor. This week we will look into a few more of Hosea’s metaphors, the most dominant of which is, indeed, the parent-child one.
Hosea used metaphors for the same reasons that Jesus taught in parables: First, to explain truths about God through the familiar things of life; second, to impress on people’s minds important spiritual principles that could be applied in everyday existence.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 13.
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In Hosea 12:6 Hosea could've said "and wait for your God." But instead he said "...wait for your God always"
This meaning the coming of Jesus is unknown. We shuld stand firm in his truth.
Hosea 12: 5-6; in verse 5 saysEven the Lord God of host; the Lord is his memorial and 6 therefore turn thou to thy God keep mercy and judgement and wait on thy God continually. That is a very strong promise to Hosea and to those who come back to God. Now in our generations , we are facing idolatrous world that people concentrating about finances and material thing. Sabbath day is my only reminder that our God we serve and wait patiently never asleep
This lesson teaches about love with our creator-God Who first loved us,by sending His only Son to die for our sins,"He is the life giver."John 3:16.
Let us all,obey His commandments, Amen.
As we can see and understand more abou hosea,likewise our father in heaven cant leave us regardless our sins theres still time for repentance.He.(God)do not need anyone to perish.
How difficult it is to lead wayward people. It takes patience and love to master this art.
Love and Judgment is God's dilema indeed.
He first took a wayward wife, now He must make means to win and keep her.
it is indeed challenging to lead wayward people from a human point of view but there is nothing impossible with God. The bible says you can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipian4:13
The God of Jacob wanted them to know that He was also their God. They turned away from Him and He was appealing for them to return to Him. We can only return to God when we sincerely repent of our sins and make a commitment with the help of the Holy Spirit to turn away from sins. Love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Our genuine love will result in total obedience, faith and a personal commitment. I know I never want to hurt Him again as I have in my past. I am fortunate to be alive. His grace and mercy.
from last week,are we also advised to do what Hosea was instructed by God to do?
I like the New Living Translation on this verse. "So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on Him." Hosea 12:6. What a wonderful invitation and admonition.