And we're going to pray first and ask for God's help.
Father, we thank you that in your love,
you know us intimately more than we could ever imagine.
You know our thoughts right now.
You know our deepest concerns and our greatest needs.
And so would you humble us all today
that we would be people who sit under your word,
under your power, under your authority.
And that you would speak afresh into our lives
through the book of Hosea,
through its message,
that we may come to understand better
the kind of God you are
and the kind of people you call us to be.
So set our affections for you.
Take us away from other things
that we may lean and trust
and depend wholly on you.
So Father, help us now, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Who has hurt you the most?
Who's hurt you the most?
Well, it's always the people
that you love the most.
Those we don't have any relationship with
can't hurt you.
But those who we have the most
intimate of relationships with
hurt us the most.
like friends
or family
or a husband
and a wife.
He sat
on the couch
broken,
disappointed
and devastated
and as the tears flowed
he told how his newly
wedded wife
who had recently vowed
to love him,
be loyal to him,
be faithful to him,
had not come home
last evening
because
she had spent the night
with another man.
But he was not about
to give up on the one he loved.
He was jealous
for her.
He did not want
to share
his lover.
He longed
for her to return.
You see,
those we
love the most
can hurt us
the most.
And that's how God
feels
about you
and I.
Chapter 1 of Hosea
told us
that God sees
his relationship
with his people
as a marriage.
He is the
faithful
husband
but we are
the unfaithful
wife
who has
turned away
from his love.
but God
is not about
to give up
on us.
He is
jealous
for us.
He is
a broken
hearted
husband
who will not
share
his loved
one.
Have a look
at verse 2.
Here God
is speaking
to individuals
within
the nation
of Israel.
Verse 2
he says,
rebuke
your mother
rebuke her
speak to
the people
tell them
for she
is not
my wife
and I
am not
her husband.
This is a
passionate plea
for God's
people
to come
back to him.
You see
Israel
whom he
had loved
and entered
into a marriage
with
were not
living
as a wife
and they
were not
treating
God
as their
husband.
It was
a marriage
on paper
but not
in practice.
They were
unfaithful.
Look at the
rest of
verse 2.
God
pleads
let her
remove
the
adulterous
look
from her
face
and the
unfaithfulness
between
her
breasts.
Otherwise
I will
strip her
naked
and make
her as
bare
as on
the day
she was
born.
Just
as she
lies
naked
with
her
lovers.
So
God
says
I am
going
to
take
everything
away
from
the
people
of
Israel.
God
is angry
that his
wife Israel
has walked
out on
the marriage.
But these
are not the
words of a
cold-hearted
judge who
wants to
punish us.
These are
the words
of a
broken-hearted
husband who
will not
share
his loved
one.
It seems
Israel would
go to
whoever
promised
the best
gifts.
Look down
at verse
five.
Their
mother
has been
unfaithful.
She has
conceived
them in
disgrace.
That is
the whole
nation
has become
unfaithful.
She said
I will
go after
my
lovers
who give
me my
food and
my water
and my
wool and
my linen
my oil
and my
drink.
All the
things that
I need
I can get
from other
people.
I can go
to other
places and
get what
I want.
Who needs
God?
But
look down
at verse
eight.
She has
not
acknowledged
that I
was the
one who
gave her
the grain
the new
wine and
oil who
lavished
on her
the silver
and gold
which they
used for
Baal the
worship of
other gods.
It's
Christmas
morning.
There are
the gifts
under the
tree.
But one
gift stands
out as
extra special.
it reads
to my
adorable
wife
with all
my love
your
faithful
husband.
She
opened it
carefully to
discover the
most beautiful
diamond
necklace.
But before
she could
offer any
thanks to
her husband
she ran
to the
man next
door and
she threw
her arms
around him
and said
thank you
for this
most beautiful
gift.
I love
you.
How do you
think the
husband feels
watching as
she runs
to her
other lover?
He didn't
give it to
you.
I'm the one
who sacrificed
to make this
possible.
It's me
who loves
you.
it's the
ultimate
slap in
the face.
And that's
exactly what
Israel had
done to
God.
Instead of
thanking God
they gave
thanks to
their made
up gods.
They had
taken all
the love
gifts
but ignored
the giver
their true
lover.
Verse 8
She has
not
acknowledged
that I
was the
one
who gave
her
all that
she had.
But are
we any
different?
We receive
a good
salary
and attribute
it to
working hard
and finding
the right
job.
It's all
about the
right school
and the
right colleges
that I
attend.
We celebrate
our children's
success on
the sports
field and
their achievements
all through
life and we
congratulate
ourselves and
what a fine
job I've
done.
Or we
long for a
better life
for more
opportunities
and a
better lifestyle
and we
think if
only they
weren't in
power.
And the
other party
was, well
then life
would be
so much
better.
And we
forget that
it is God
who is the
source of
all that we
have and
enjoy.
He is the
generous lover
who has
lavished upon
us everything
that we
have.
Like the
wife who
received the
diamond necklace.
grace.
So we
take all
the gifts
and we
can ignore
the giver.
We chase
after other
lovers, our
work, our
family, our
ideologies.
We sell
ourselves to
other things
and other
people because
they tell us
they can
deliver what
we want.
Look back
at verse
two.
Rebuke
your mother,
rebuke her,
for she is
not my
wife and
I am not
her husband.
These are
not the
words of a
cold-hearted
judge who
wants to
punish us.
These are
the words of
a broken-hearted
husband who
will not
share his
loved one.
In fact,
God is our
loving,
disciplining
husband who
longs for
our return.
You see,
God will
not let
his people
just wander
away from
his love.
He's not
content to
say, you
know what?
It doesn't
matter.
It does
matter.
Look at
verse six.
Therefore,
God says,
I will
block her
path with
thorn bushes.
I will
wall her
in so that
she cannot
find her
way.
She will
chase after
other lovers
but not
catch them.
she will
look for
them but
not find
them.
God is
making it
so clear
that he
is going
to intervene
into the
life of
his people
Israel.
He will
discipline
them.
In fact,
the story
goes on to
tell us that
within a few
years of
Hosea speaking
this message,
Assyria,
the great
nation,
that big
empire,
closed in
upon Israel
and destroyed
them so that
they would
never recover
again.
Now,
we might
object and
think that
God is
overreacting
but this
is an act
of loving
discipline.
It's for
a purpose.
God longs
for our
return.
Look at the
rest of
verse 7.
This is as
he walls
her in and
hems her
in.
It's
symbolism of
Assyria that
were coming
and look
what it
says in
the second
part of
verse 7.
Then she
will say,
I will
go back
to my
husband as
at first,
for then
I was
better off
than now.
God will
bring such
a terrible
devastation on
his people
that perhaps
some within
Israel would
turn back in
repentance to
God.
They would
go back to
their husbands.
You see,
just as God
is the one
who gives
us all
that we
have.
He is
also the
one that
can take
all that
we have.
Look at
verse 9.
Therefore,
God says,
I will
take away
my grain
when it
ripens
and my
new wine
when it
is ready.
I will
take back
my wool
and my
linen
intended
to cover
her
nakedness.
God
wants them
to see
that he
is their
true lover,
that he
longs for
them to
return to
him.
He is
the only
one who
has given
all that
they have.
Verse 12.
I will
ruin her
vines and
her fig
trees,
which she
said were
her pay
from her
lovers.
I will
make them
a thicket
and wild
animals will
devour
them.
Again,
a sign
of Assyria
that is
to come.
Verse 13.
I will
punish,
literally,
I will
discipline
her for
the day
she burned
incense to
the bales.
She decked
herself with
rings and
jewellery.
She went
after her
lovers,
but me
she forgot,
declares
the Lord.
You see,
the only way
for Israel
to see
that they
had forgotten
God,
their loving
husband,
was to
take from
them all
that they
had.
The purpose
was to
waken them
up to
help them
see how
far they
had drifted
in the
marriage.
And
sometimes
God must
do that
with us.
Not to
show us
simply
who's
boss,
but because
he loves
us and
longs for
us to
return.
Have a
look at
Hebrews
chapter 12.
It's on
page 1210
if you're
using the
church
Bible.
We read
a part of
it earlier.
Hebrews
chapter 12.
Hebrews
chapter 12.
Let's pick
it up in
verse 5.
Just as God
had disciplined
Israel,
let's read
these verses.
verses.
And you
have forgotten
that word
of encouragement
that addresses
you as
sons.
My son,
do not
make light
of the
Lord's
discipline
and do
not lose
heart when
he rebukes
you,
because the
Lord disciplines
those he
loves
and he
punishes.
That is,
he lovingly
corrects
everyone he
accepts as
a son.
Verse 11.
No discipline
seems pleasant
at the time,
but painful.
Later on,
however,
it produces a
harvest of
righteousness
and peace
for those
who have
been trained
by it.
You see,
God is
jealous
for us.
He is not
willing to
share us
with other
lovers.
He longs
that we
return to
him and
sometimes
that will
mean
discipline.
Just as
he takes,
or sorry,
just as he
gives,
he can
also take.
If
Kirsty
goes away,
it's not
long until
the kids
and I
realise
just how
much we
need
Kirsty.
There's
no clean
clothes,
the fridge
is empty,
appointments
get forgotten,
but it's
not just
the practical
things.
It's the
person.
We miss
mum,
we miss
Kirsty.
You see,
it's not just
the things
we need,
we need
the person.
And we
can become
so dependent
on other
things and
other people,
our work,
our health,
our family,
but God
loves us
too much
to let us
pursue
our idols.
He wants
us to love
him for
who he is
and sometimes
he will have
to take
our idols
away so
that we
will see
who our
true
lover
is.
Now,
I'm not
saying
everything
we lose
is because
of some
disobedient
lifestyle,
but when
something
precious
is taken
from us,
it's an
opportunity
to run
to God
who is
more precious
and more
valuable
than anything
this world
can offer.
We sang
with that
song,
he gives
and he
takes away.
Blessed
be the name
of the
Lord.
Sometimes
God will
take
to bring
blessing
as he
drives us
back to
him,
to his
love.
You see,
God is not
quick to
give up
on us.
He is
our
passionate
and
pursuing
husband.
Let's
go back
to Hosea
verse
14.
Hosea
chapter 2
verse 14.
Therefore,
therefore what?
What do we
expect God
to do?
After years
of persistent
unfaithfulness,
running to
other lovers
and giving
credit to
other gods,
I'm never
going to
bring you
back again.
I'm going
to destroy
you.
Well,
maybe that's
what they
deserve,
but it's
not what
happens.
Look at
verse 14.
Therefore,
I am
now going
to allure
her.
I'm not
giving up
on you.
I will
chase after
you.
I will
pursue
you.
I will
draw you
in by
my affections.
You are
my wife
and I
love you.
And so
God promises
three things.
First,
a rekindled
love.
Look at
the rest
of verse
14.
I will
lead her
into the
desert
and speak
tenderly
to her.
Remember,
this is
where God's
relationship
with Israel
began,
in the
desert.
When they
came up
out of
Egypt,
out of
slavery,
it's like
a husband
taking his
wife back
to the
very first
place where
they met,
to somehow
awaken the
love that
they first
had,
to arouse
the desires
that they
first had.
And God
says to
his people,
I will
take you
back there
again so
that we
can begin
again,
so that I
can show
you my
love again.
Your love
for me
will be
rekindled.
But it
will be much
better than
that.
Look at
verse 15,
there I
will give
her back
her vineyards
and will
make the
valley of
Achor
a door
of hope.
Now the
valley of
Achor
was not
good news
for God's
people.
In
Achor,
God's
judgment
had fallen
on the
people because
of their
sin.
That's why
Achor
actually means
trouble.
No one
wants to
go back
to Achor.
But this
time it
will be
different.
Instead of
judgment,
it will
become,
look at
verse 15,
a door
of hope.
God
promises to
bring his
people up
out of
slavery,
out of
judgment.
Verse 15,
there she
will sing
as in the
days of
her youth,
as in
the day
she came
up out
of Egypt.
God
promises
that another
exodus is
going to
take place.
A door
of hope
will open
and love
will be
rekindled.
where and
when is
that going
to take
place?
Well,
before we
get there,
look at the
second promise
God makes.
Not just
rekindled
love,
but a
renewed
marriage.
Verse 16,
in that
day,
declares the
Lord,
you will
call me
my
husband.
You will
no longer
call me
my
master.
You will
no longer
be enslaved
by your
gods or
running after
other lovers.
The door
of hope
will open
and we
will renew
the
marriage.
You see,
when a
marriage
breaks,
when a
wife commits
adultery or
the husband
has an
affair,
the only
hope of
that marriage
being renewed
is when the
guilty party
returns home.
The innocent
victim may
say something
like this,
if you
show me,
if you
prove to
me you
will never
do this
again,
then I
will take
you back.
But with
God it's
different.
Even though
he is the
innocent victim
who has
remained
faithful,
he is the
one who
reaches out
to the
unfaithful.
Verse 19,
I will
betroth you
to me
forever.
I will
betroth you
in righteousness
and justice,
in love
and compassion.
I will
betroth you
in faithfulness
and you
will
acknowledge
the Lord.
Incredibly,
God makes
the first
move.
He takes
the initiative.
He arranges
for the
ceremony to
take place.
He brings
us to the
marriage altar
and he
renews the
vows for
us.
I will
betroth you.
I will
betroth you.
I will
betroth you.
this
marriage
will be
renewed.
How will
this happen?
Well,
before we
see,
look at the
third promise
that God
makes.
There will
be a
restored
blessing.
Verse 21,
in that
day I will
respond,
declares the
Lord.
I will
respond to
the skies
and they
will respond
to the
earth.
Remember,
God has
said that
he was
going to
take
everything
away.
He would
strip
Israel
bare of
all that
they had.
Now,
with a
renewed
marriage in
place,
he is
going to
bring
blessing.
He will
send the
rains on
the earth
and the
rains will
bring forth
a harvest,
verse 22,
and the
earth will
respond to
the grain,
the new
wine and
oil,
and they
will respond
to
Jezreel.
We'll
remember from
last week,
Jezreel had
become a
symbol of
judgment and
violent
bloodshed,
but its
original
meaning is
God
plants.
So God
is going
to take
broken
Israel,
and he's
going to
replant
them so
that they
grow and
flourish.
God is
going to
restore
everything.
Instead of
curse,
there is
going to
be
blessing,
verse 23,
I will
plant her
for myself
in the
land.
I will
show my
love to
the one
I called
not my
loved one.
And I
will say
to those
called not
my people,
you are
my people.
And they
will say,
you are
my God.
When will
this happen?
Where will
these promises
take place?
how can
all this
be done?
Well,
we're given
a clue.
Look at
verse 16.
In
that
day,
declares
the Lord.
Verse 18,
in that
day,
I will
make a
covenant.
Verse 21,
in that
day,
I will
respond.
That day
would come
when God
in his
love
pursued
us
and sent
his
son,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
The
apostle
Peter
got
this.
Have a
look at
1 Peter
chapter 2.
Keep your
finger in
Hosea
and jump
forward to
1 Peter.
It's on
page 1218.
1 Peter
chapter 2,
verse 10.
Applying
the death
and the
resurrection
of Jesus
to us,
Peter
reaches
this
conclusion.
And in
a sense,
he's
quoting
the very
end of
Hosea
chapter 2
and this
is what
he says.
As the
cross and
the
resurrection
is applied
to our
lives,
1 Peter
2,
verse 10,
he says,
once you
were not
a people,
but now
you are
the people
of God.
Once you
had not
received
mercy,
but now
you have
received
mercy.
Go back
to Hosea.
You see,
this day
that Hosea
longed
for was
the day
that Jesus
would die
on the
cross and
rise from
the grave.
Here is an
invitation for
us to come
and see
the amazing
love of
God.
Come and
look at
the cross
and the
resurrection
and see
the jealousy
of God.
See the
demonstration
of God's
love towards
his people
because at
the cross,
we watch
Jesus being
taken down
into the
valley of
Achor,
a place
of judgment
and death,
a place
of trouble.
But the
trouble doesn't
fall on
people,
it falls on
his son,
the Lord
Jesus.
He is the
one who
suffers my
unfaithfulness
and my
shame.
He is the
one who
has been
stripped
naked and
bare as
his
birthday.
day.
He is
left out,
shamed to
all the
world.
He is the
one who
has been
disciplined
for us
as God
takes his
very life
away.
But this
place of
judgment
also becomes
our door
of hope
because three
days later
Jesus would
rise again
from the
grave and
through the
resurrection
Jesus breaks
that curse
of sin
and death
and brings
the blessing
of life
to his
people.
He makes
the way
open so
that our
sin can be
dealt with,
our unfaithfulness
taken away
and placed upon
us as the
faithfulness of
Christ so
that we can
be dressed
clean and
pure as a
beautiful bride
ready for
God,
acceptable to
him.
And so
with the
resurrection,
it makes
it all
happen and
all possible.
The door
of hope
is opened
for us.
Through
Jesus,
our love
for God
is rekindled,
our marriage
to God
has been
renewed,
and the
blessing
is restored
to his
people.
In
Jesus,
this
day
becomes
a reality.
does your
love for
God
need
rekindled?
Well,
look at the
cross,
watch the
resurrection,
see that
door of hope
opened,
see the
jealous love
of God
who will
not share
you with
another lover,
who longs
for you to
return,
who has
made it
possible for
you to
return,
run into
the arms
of his
love.
Maybe you've
never ever
experienced this
kind of
relationship with
God.
Well,
he's made it
possible for
you by
taking all
your sin
so that
you can
enter into
a life
of blessing
with him.
In
Jesus,
this day
becomes
a reality.
I will
show my
love to
the one
I call
not my
loved one,
and I
will say
to those
called not
my people,
you are
my people,
and they
will say,
you are
my God.
let's
pray.
Let's
pray.