Sowing the Wind
[ READ ] Hosea 5–8
Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
there they dealt faithlessly with me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with blood.
9 As robbers lie in wait for a man,
so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
they commit villainy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.
11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.
Hosea 6:1-11
7 For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as a useless vessel.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
Now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces,
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
Hosea 8:7-14
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
there they dealt faithlessly with me.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with blood.
9 As robbers lie in wait for a man,
so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
they commit villainy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.
11 For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.
Hosea 6:1-11
7 For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as a useless vessel.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
Now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces,
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
Hosea 8:7-14
Hosea prophesies both the judgment of Israel’s faithlessness, but also the mercy of God. Like Hosea’s faithless wife, Israel has gone after other gods (Baal), sought alliances with other nations (Egypt and Assyria) for security, and abandoned the covenant they made with God. According to the terms of the covenant, there are consequences for their disobedience; they will face the justice and wrath of the Lord, but they will not be totally destroyed.
Our passage begins with a hopeful promise, that the Lord will restore, He will heal those who have been chastened and turn to Him truly (6:1-3). But for now, because they have sown wickedness, they will reap the harvest of the judgment that they deserve (8:7). In this passage, we see both the holiness of God, which cannot abide our sin, and God’s faithful love to His people, even when we are faithless. Praise God that in Christ’s rising on the third day, we too are raised and healed as Hosea foretold!
- Monica Godfrey
Our passage begins with a hopeful promise, that the Lord will restore, He will heal those who have been chastened and turn to Him truly (6:1-3). But for now, because they have sown wickedness, they will reap the harvest of the judgment that they deserve (8:7). In this passage, we see both the holiness of God, which cannot abide our sin, and God’s faithful love to His people, even when we are faithless. Praise God that in Christ’s rising on the third day, we too are raised and healed as Hosea foretold!
- Monica Godfrey
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect:
+ Why do the Israelites deserve judgment? What does God desire of the Israelites?
+ What is evident about the character of God in these passages?
+ Why do the Israelites deserve judgment? What does God desire of the Israelites?
+ What is evident about the character of God in these passages?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life:
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways are we like Israel? How do you view your sin?
- Are you turning from it and seeking God truly?
- Do you still love your sin and are unrepentant?
- Do you believe that the Lord gives mercy for your sins and healing for your soul?
- Spend some time honestly with the Lord in prayer about this.
+ Is there someone you need to confess to and ask forgiveness from?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways are we like Israel? How do you view your sin?
- Are you turning from it and seeking God truly?
- Do you still love your sin and are unrepentant?
- Do you believe that the Lord gives mercy for your sins and healing for your soul?
- Spend some time honestly with the Lord in prayer about this.
+ Is there someone you need to confess to and ask forgiveness from?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.churchcenter.com/groups)
+ What is my next step?
+ Is there someone you know who needs to hear of the mercy and judgment of our God?
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.churchcenter.com/groups)
+ What is my next step?
+ Is there someone you know who needs to hear of the mercy and judgment of our God?
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