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Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.

1, 9 January 2003
Reading: all of Hosea and especially Hosea 1:1-9
Questions

1. Find out what you can about Hosea himself from his book.

2. What is the main theme of the book of Hosea?

3. How is this theme developed in other parts of the Bible, including the New
Testament?

4. Why do you think that Hosea precedes Amos in the order of books in the Hebrew
canon?

5. Hosea 1:1. (Optional for those without reference material). Find out the dates these
kings ruled.

6. Hosea 1:1-2. In these verses what do we learn about how God communicates with
individuals?

7. Compare the calls to prophethood of Amos (Amos 7:10-16), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-12
and Hosea.

7. Hosea 1:2-3. How do you explain these verses?

8. Hosea 1:4- 9. How can we deduce that the second and third children of Gomer were
illegitimate?

9. What did the choice of names emphasize?

The Message of Hosea: Love to the Loveless, Derek Kidner IVP, 1976, Leicester.

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.2, 16 January 2003


Reading: Hosea 1:10 - 2:1 A break in the clouds
Questions

1. Hosea 1:10-11. To what 4 or 5 promises does ‘Yet’ point? See especially Genesis
22:17-18 and Isaiah 10:20-23.

2. List some information from the Bible about Jezreel. See 1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Kings
21:1, 2 Kings 9:24 etc.
3. Hosea 1:11. What evidence is there that the concept of the one nation was not dead
after the division of the kingdom after Solomon into two? 2 Chronicles 34:6-7 &9;
compare with 2 Chronicles 35:18-19. See also 1 Chronicles 9:3; and Ezra 8:35 for
after the Babylonian exile..

4. Hosea 2:1. Unravel this verse. See Acts 26:6-8; Galatians 3:6-9; Romans 4:9-25
and John 11:51-2. How did God include the Samaritans (John 4:21-3) and the
Gentiles?

5. Hosea 1:10-2:1. What spiritual principles do we learn from these few verses?

6.What promise or promises of God are particularly relevant to your life at the present
time?

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.3, 23 January 2003


Reading: Hosea 2:2-23 The lovers and the Lover
Questions

Hosea 2:2-4 She is not for sharing

1. What 2 pictures of Israel’s apostasy do we find in these verses?

2. Is the question one of saying ‘sorry’ or of radical repentance? What is the


difference?

Hosea 2:5-13 The rude awakening

3. What parallels can you find between this passage and the parable of the prodigal
son in Luke 15:11-32?

Hosea 2:14-17 The constant Lover

4. Investigate the meaning of Achor in Joshua chapter 7.

5. How did God make the Valley of Achor a Door of Hope for Israel? How can he do
this for us?

6. Investigate the meaning of Baal.

Hosea 2:18-20 Perfect bliss

7. Comment on ‘that day’. What did it mean for Hosea and his time? What does it
mean for us now, and for the future?

8. Hosea 2:19-20. Examine each of the key words in these verses. What do we learn
from them about the nature of God?

Hosea 2:21-23 Abundant concord

9. In what way are these verses an answer to polytheism?

10. What do these verses teach about covenant? What do they say to us? See Romans
9:23-26 and I Peter 2:9-10.

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.4, 30 January 2003


Readings: Hosea 3:1-5 Love…as the Lord loves. Hosea 4:1-19
Questions

1. How does God sum up the situation of Hosea’s marriage, comparing it to his own
covenant relationship with the Israelites? How does Ephesians 5:32-33 relate to
Hosea 3:1?

2. Comment on ‘sacred raisin cakes’, ‘15 shekels of silver’, ‘homer’, ‘lekhed’ and
ephod’.

3. Why is this chapter written in prose and not poetry?

Note that the remaining chapters of Hosea (4-14) spell out the parable contained
in chapters 1-3.

Questions on 4:1-19

Hosea 4:1-3. All the sins in the book


4. Hosea 4:1. What do faithfulness, kindness (hesed) and knowledge of God tell us
about relationship?
5. Hosea 4:2. In these sins how did the embryonic become full-blown? Compare with
the sermon on the mount.
6. Hosea 4:3. What are the effects of sin on humanity and the environment?
Hosea 4:4-6 The guiltiest party
7.Who is the guiltiest party? See Matthew 15:14.
Hosea 4:7-11 Like people, like priest
8. Do people get the leaders they deserve?
9. Why are the priests obsessed with food and sex?
Hosea 4:11-14 Creeping corruption
10. Why are God’s people without excuse?
11. Why does God not allow a double standard – one for men and another for
women? Compare Genesis 38:23-24.
Hosea 4:15-19 Keep your distance
12. Note the use of irony and compare with Amos 4:4 and Luke 15:17.

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.5, 6 February 2003


Reading: Hosea 5:1-7:2
Questions on Hosea 5:1-13 The prospect darkens

Hosea 5:1-2 A nation to avoid


1. Comment on Mizpah and Tabor.

2. What sections of Israel were culpable? How can we apply these verses to the
present day?

Hosea 5:5-7 No short way home


3. Was there still hope for Israel? What 2 factors stand out?

4. What is the fundamental lack in nominal religion?

Hosea 5:8-14 Deep trouble


Note on Hosea 5:8-9. Israel/Ephraim was wiped out in 722 BC.
Note on Hosea 5:10. Judah and Benjamin were brought to their knees in 701 BC only
to collapse after little more than a century.

5. What do we learn about the sin of land-grabbing? See also Micah 2:2 and Isaiah
5:8. What examples do we see today?

6. How did God use Assyria as his instrument of punishment? How did he act more
directly himself? Are there modern parallels?

Hosea 5:15-7:2 Let us press on to know the Lord


Hosea 5:15-6:6 The reunion God longs for
7. How do you interpret this section?

8. How does Jesus apply Hosea 6:6? How does this verse relate to us? See 1
Corinthians 13.

Hosea 6:1-7:2 The rebuff to God’s advances


9. Hosea 7:2. Why does God and his judgment seem irrelevant to many people then
and now?

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.6 & 7, 13 & 20 February 2003
Readings: Hosea 7:3-16 Decadence. Hosea 8:1-14 Sowing the wind, reaping the
whirlwind.
Questions on Hosea 7:3-7 Corruption at court

1. What should the royal anniversary have been like? See Psalm 72:1.

2. What striking simile does Hosea use here for the actuality?

3. What kind of men ruled Israel before its final fall and disappearance in 722 BC?
See 2 Kings 15:10, 14, 25 & 30. Consider the rulers of our times and pray for the
nations.

Questions on Hosea 7:8-16 A nation of unteachables


4. Hosea 7:8. What is the meaning of this simile? How can it be applied to the church
today? George Adam Smith The Book of the Twelve Prophets, 1900, p. 272: “How
better describe a half-fed people, a half-cultured society, a half-lived religion, a half-
hearted policy, than by a half-baked scone?”

5. Hosea 7:9-10. What is the meaning of this simile? How can it be applied to the
church today? Read Judges 16:20.

6. Hosea 7:11-13. What is the meaning of this simile? How can it be applied to the
church today?

7. Hosea 7:14-16. What is the meaning of this simile? How can it be applied to the
church today? Read Psalm 78:57.

Questions on Hosea 8:1-14 Sowing the wind, reaping the whirlwind


Note:Israel’s dangerous self-reliance runs all through this chapter with its self-
appointed kings, its man-made calf, its expensive allies, its own version of
religion and its impressive fortresses. (Kidner).
Hosea 8:1-3. Alarmist or realist?
8:1. What indicates that Israel does not realistically recognize the dangers?
8:2. What light do John 8:33, 9:28f. and John 2:4 shed on Hosea 8:2?
8:3. What of the covenant, the law and ‘good’?

Hosea 8:4-14. The self-help that is no help


a. Hosea 8:4-6. Puppet kings and puppet gods
9. Indicate some modern parallels to such kings and such gods.

b. Hosea 8:7-10. Desperate diplomacy


10. The main context is foreign policy and the main issue is faith and fidelity.
(Kidner). Give some modern parallels.

c. Hosea 8:11-13. Religiosity


11. Hosea 8:11. How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 11:27?
12. Hosea 8:12. How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 2:14?
13. Hosea 8:13. Explain the significance of ‘return to Egypt’. Grace becomes dis-
grace.

d. Hosea 8:14. Misplaced trust


14. What does this verse teach us about God and building? See Psalm 48:12-13,
Nehemiah 4:14, 2 Kings 18:13 and 2 Kings 19:20f...

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No.8, 27 February 2003


Readings: Hosea 9:1- 10:15 Punishment for Israel
Questions
Hosea 9:1-17 Wanderers among the nations
Hosea 9:1-6 The party is over
1. How modern is this description? See James 4:4.

Hosea 9:7-9 The prophet is a fool


2. Why have true prophets been considered mad? 2 Kings 9:11; Jeremiah 29:26f. ;
Acts 26:24; John 7:20, 8:48 and Matthew 5:11-12.

3. What was God’s title for the prophet in this passage?

Hosea 9:10-14 The glory departs


4. Hosea 9:10. Another link with a parable see Matthew 21:18-19.

5. Read about Baal Peor in Numbers 25:1-3. What 2 kinds of impurity and
unfaithfulness are seen at Baal Peor and here in Israel? See also Psalm115:18.

6. Hosea 9:11-14. What natural disasters arise from the misuse of sex in any age?

7. What were Israel’s/Ephraim’s final losses?

Hosea 9:15-17 The disinherited


8. What 4 judgments are listed here?

9. What is God’s last word about the Jews? See Romans11:11-16 and 25-36.

Hosea 10:1-15 ‘Time to seek the Lord’


10. What is the key verse in this chapter? Why is it key?

Hosea 10:1-2 Bounty and betrayal


11. “The development of cultic sanctuaries was simply turning part of the profit back
into the business. Altars and pillars were the holy machinery which produced the
prosperity.” (J L Mays). Name some modern parallels.

Hosea 10:3-6 Disenchantment


12. Hosea 10:5. What is the difference between worldly grief and godly grief? 2
Corinthians 7:10.

Hosea 10:7-10 Days of reckoning


13. The fall of Samaria is a foretaste of greater tragedies and judgments. See Luke
13:2-5; 23:30-31 and Revelation 6:15-16.

Hosea 10:11-15 A choice of harvests

14. Hosea 10:11. See Hebrews 5:8 & 12:6. Jeremiah 4:3.

15. Israel reacted badly to discipline. What was the result? See Mathew 13:1-9.

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No. 9, 6 March 2003


Readings: Hosea 11:1-12:14
Hosea 11:1-11
Questions
1. Why is chapter 11 so remarkable?

Hosea 11:1-4 The cold shoulder


2. Hosea 11:1. Why is this such a remarkable verse? See Exodus 4:22 and Matthew
2:15. Why is the plural implied or used for ‘son’ in Exodus 4:22 and Hosea 11:2?
Hosea 11:5-7 The cruel consequences
3. How much is the will involved in repentance?

4. Why is Egypt mentioned? Why Assyria?

Hosea 11:8-9 The warm resolve


5. How was Ephraim different from Admah and Zeboiim?

6. Give a brief definition of the word ‘holy’ a. in regard to God b. in regard to man.

Hosea 11:10-11 The great home-coming


7. Find another example of home-coming in the Old Testament which describes a
determination to follow the Lord.

Hosea 11:12- 12:14 Look back and learn!


Hosea 11:12-12:2 Double talk and double dealing
8. Why were both kingdoms rebuked but especially Ephraim/Israel?

Hosea 12:3-6 Wrestling Jacob


9. Read Genesis 25:26. What does the name Jacob mean literally and figuratively?

10. Read Genesis 32:22-32. What does the name Israel mean? What evidence is there
in Hosea 12:3-6 of God’s part in the re-making of Jacob? What was now required of
the people of the northern kingdom of Israel?

Hosea 12:7-9 Affluent Ephraim


11. Compare Ephraim with the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17. Why is there a
flashback to the Exodus?

Hosea 12:10-14 Prophet without honour


12. What do we learn in this passage about the role of the prophets? Deuteronomy
18:15-22.

13. Hosea 12:14. What special danger faces a once-enlightened nation, church or
individual? Matthew 4:4 and John 3:21.

Bible studies on the Minor Prophets, HOSEA No. 10, 13 March 2003
Readings: Hosea 13:1-14:9
Questions on Hosea 13:1-15 The making of a kingdom

Hosea 13:1-3 Vanished dignity


1. What mind-shift resulted in the sorry condition of Ephraim? What basic element
makes this mind-shift so grave?

2. How does the breaking of the first commandment lead on to the breaking of the
second? Exodus 20:2-6.

Hosea 13:4-8 No tame divinity


3. Exodus 20:5. God is a jealous God. What does this mean? How can his being
saviour be reconciled with his judgment?

4. Optional! Which hymn writer wrote “The dearest idol I have known
Help me to tear it from my heart and worship only you”?

Hosea 13:9-13 Who can help you?


5. Why is Israel beyond help at this point?

Hosea 13:14 The last enemy


6. What final triumph does God promise? 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.

Hosea 13:15-16 No quarter for Samaria


7. Give 2 reasons for the severity of Ephraim’s suffering.

Questions on Hosea 14:1-9 The way home


Hosea 14:1-3 Draw near to God
George Adam Smith: ‘Amos cries, “Turn, for in front of you is destruction:;” but
Hosea, “Turn, for behind you is God.”’ p. 339.
8. What are the elements of true repentance?

Hosea 14:4-7 …and he will draw near to you


9. Hosea 14:4. What does this verse teach us about the grace of God? How would you
define grace?

10. Hosea 4:5-7. “Like” is used 8 times. What do the metaphors in these verses teach
us?

Hosea 14:8 The appeal pressed home


10. “O Ephraim!” What feelings lie behind this? Also look up Genesis 41:52.

Hosea 14:9 Epilogue: To the reader


11. The word of God goes on speaking. In what ways does it speak to us?

12. What impact has the book of Hosea made on you?

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