January 17
Lesson 7
AN UNFAITHFUL BRIDE
DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 89:24–29
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Hosea 1–3
HOSEA 1:1–11
1 The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.
6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.
7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
KEY VERSE
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
—Hosea 1:2
SACRED GIFTS AND HOLY GATHERINGS
Unit 2: Four Weddings and a Funeral
LESSONS 5–9
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Tell the story of Hosea’s unusual family.
2. Explain how the marriage of Hosea and Gomer represented the relationship between the Lord and Israel.
3. Identify one way to improve his or her spiritual fidelity and make a plan to do so.
LESSON OUTLINE
Introduction
A. Well Begun?
B. Lesson Background
I. Marriage That Illustrates (HOSEA 1:1–3a)
A. God Commands (vv. 1, 2)
The Clarity of 20/20 Hindsight
B. Hosea Obeys (v. 3a)
II. Names That Symbolize (HOSEA 1:3b–9)
A. First Child (vv. 3b–5)
B. Second Child (vv. 6, 7)
C. Third Child (vv. 8, 9)
What’s in a Name?
III. Vision That Predicts (HOSEA 1:10, 11)
A. Restored Population (v. 10)
B. Coming King (v. 11)
Conclusion
A. Restoring a Damaged Relationship
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Beeri Be-ee-rye.
Canaanites Kay-nun-ites.
Diblaim Dib-lay-im.
Hezekiah Hez-ih-kye-uh.
Hosea Ho-zay-uh.
Issachar Izz-uh-kar.
Jehu Jay-hew.
Jeroboam Jair-uh-boe-um.
Joash Jo-ash.
Loammi (Hebrew)
Lo-am-m Loruhamah (Hebrew) Lo-roo-hah-muh.
Nebat Nee-bat.
Uzziah Uh-zye-uh.
______________________________________________________What Do You Think?
What are some positive ways for our lives to illustrate biblical principles?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ In family life
■ In church life
■ In vocation
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
What are some ways you have been challenged to obey God when doing so was not easy?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding cultural expectations
■ Regarding workplace expectations
■ Regarding expectations of family members
■ Other
______________________________________________________
What Do You Think?
How does God’s heart toward Judah serve as a model, if at all, for how to respond when wounded by another?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Concerning a spouse
■ Concerning a friend
■ Concerning a fellow Christian
■ Other
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
What Do You Think?
What “names” would you give to different seasons in the spiritual life of a Christian? How can doing so be useful?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Regarding a season of guilt
Regarding a season of grief
Regarding a season of doubt
Regarding a season of victory
Other
______________________________________________________
What Do You Think?
What risks are worth taking and not taking when trying to rebuild a broken relationship? Why?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Considering the nature of the relationship
■ Considering where the fault lies
■ Other
______________________________________________________
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