STUDY GUIDES THE PROPHETIC WISDOM OF HOSEA Thirdmill OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES Introduction I. Background A. Prophet 1. Time 2. Location 3. Circumstances 4. Purpose B. Book 1. Time 2. Location 3. Circumstances 4. Purpose REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. How much time did Hosea's ministry span? 2. In what year did the united kingdom of David and Solomon divide into two kingdoms? 3. Hosea focused his ministry on events involving the _________ Empire. 4. In Hosea's day, did the gap between the rich and the poor grow bigger or smaller? 5. Of the kings listed in Hosea 1:1, which ruled over Israel? 6. Which "Jeroboam" reigned during Hosea's ministry? 7. Hosea's ministry began near what year, and ended sometime before what year? 8. What factors indicate Hosea's orientation toward the northern kingdom? 9. Why were Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea omitted from Hosea 1:1? 10 What proof did the leaders of Judah give to Hosea to show God's approval of all they did? 11. Broadly speaking, we can refer to the troubles that Hosea predicted as the period of the _______. 12. Note the year that these three events occurred. Tilath-Pileser III became emperor of Assyria: _____ Assyria invades Israel: _____ The Assyrians utterly destroy the kingdom of Israel: _____ 13. Which Israelite king joined the "Syrian-Israelite coalition" in an attempt to free himself from paying tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III? 14. Unlike his grandfather and father, ________ rejected God and promoted idolatry and injustice. 15. To whom did king Hoshea turn to for protection when Tiglath-Pileser died? 16. In 722 B.C., which Assyrian king brought about the complete destruction of Samaria and drove most of the population of Israel into exile? 17. Like other prophets, Hosea had the special role of serving as God's emissary or ambassador who announced how God was going to implement His ________ policies. 18. How does the lesson explain the meaning of "that world"? 19. How does the lesson explain the meaning of "their world"? 20. Did Hosea compose his book before the kingdom of Israel was destroyed in 722 B.C.? 21. How do critical interpreters come to their conclusions on the date of Hosea? 22. We can rightly conclude that Hosea was composed during the reign of ________. 23. Where did Hosea probably write most of his prophecies? 24. In 701 B.C., who invaded Judah, destroying many cities, towns and villages, and even laid siege to Jerusalem? 25. Even though God had delivered Jerusalem, Hezekiah sought after an alliance with ________. 26. Hosea summarized the purpose for his book in what passage? 27. In reading Hosea's own summary of the book bearing his name, what can we conclude about the purpose of the book? APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. The time of the prophet Hosea was a time of spiritual unfaithfulness in Israel and Judah. How would you describe the spiritual condition of the Church today around the world? 2. If God were to send a prophet like Hosea to your own local church today, what things do you think He would say to them through the prophet? 3. Do you think God still speaks to His people today? In what ways? What do you think He is telling them? THE PROPHETIC WISDOM OF HOSEA STUDY GUIDE 1.2 Lesson 1: An Introduction to Hosea Section 2: Content and Structure OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES II. Content and Structure A. Judgment and Hope, 1:2–3:5 1. Earlier Family Experiences, 1:2–2:1 2. God’s Lawsuit, 2:2-23 3. Later Family Experiences, 3:1-5 B. Unfolding Judgment, 4:1–9:9 1. God’s Lawsuits, 5:1-7 2. God’s Calls for Alarm, 5:8–9:9 C. Unfolding Hope, 9:10–14:8 1. Fruit, 9:10-12 2. Planted Palm, 9:13-17 3. Luxuriant Vine, 10:1-10) 4. Trained Calf, 10:11-15 5. Beloved Child, 11:1–14:8 Conclusion REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. How did Hosea arrange his book? 2. In the first division of Hosea (1:2-3:5), how does the author speak about Judah? 3. What was Gomer, Hosea's wife, known for practicing? 4. What is the setting for Hosea 2? 5. Who or what did Hosea have in mind when he referenced a "mother" in Hosea 2:2? 6. What did God command Hosea to do with Gomer after she returned to her way of life as a worship prostitute? 7. In Hosea 4:1, the term "charge" is the technical term for what word? 8. We can be fairly certain Hosea's prophecy in Hosea 5:1 came around 732 B.C. because he mentions which two cities? 9. In ancient Israel, armies were often called into battle with what instrument? 10. Who did the Assyrians establish as king of Israel after their victory over Israel in 732 B.C.? 11. What was the historical context for the second call for alarm in Hosea 8:1-9:9? 12. Name each comparison God made with Israel according to its section in the third division of Hosea: Hosea 9:10-12 _______________ Hosea 9:13-17 _______________ Hosea 10:1-10 _______________ Hosea 10:11-15 _______________ Hosea 11:1-14:8 _______________ 13. Was it likely that Israel's comparison to fruit in Hosea 9:10-12 was revealed along with other earlier prophecies in 722 B.C.? 14. What do we see Israel doing with their wealth in Hosea 10:1? 15. The historical context of the "Beloved Child" section (11:1-14:8) is confirmed by the fact that in 11:12 and 12:2-6, Hosea also prophesied against ________. 16. Why was judgment not the end of Israel's story? APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever been challenged to show love to someone you considered very immoral, like Gomer? How did you react? Did you learn to love that person? If so, what helped you? 2. Have you ever been challenged to show love a second time to someone you had considered very immoral, and when you showed love, returned to his or her immoral life style, like Gomer? How did you react? Did you learn to love that person again? If so, what helped you? 3. Reflections on Hosea 14:4 Read Hosea 14:4 and answer the questions: How did God say He would love Israel? What did He say He would do in response to their apostasy? What did God say about His anger? What can we learn about God's love from this verse? How does this verse make you feel? How do you think you should treat other people in response to God' love? Write down your thoughts. What else can we learn from this verse? Write down your reflections. THE PROPHETIC WISDOM OF HOSEA STUDY GUIDE 2.1 Lesson 2: Revelations for the Wise Section 1: Judgment and Hope OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES Introduction I. Judgment and Hope A. Original Meaning 1. Blessing After Judgment 2. Blessing Through Judah B. Modern Application 1. Bride of Christ 2. Latter Days in Christ REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Indicate whether we see judgment and/or hope in each division of Hosea. Section 1: __________ Section 2: __________ Section 3: __________ 2. "After a period of judgment, Israel will receive God's blessings in the latter days through ________ with Judah and ________ to David's house." 3. What did Hosea name his three children? 4. Did the divine lawsuit in Hosea 2:14-23 end with curses from God? 5. The covenant expressed in Hosea 2:18 is also predicted in what Old Testament passages? 6. What is symbolized by Gomer's "time without a man" in Hosea 3:4-5? 7. The following concepts are important themes in Hosea: The U______ of the 12 tribes S___________ to David's house Spreading God's K________ to the ends of the earth 8. From what Old Testament passage did the prophets draw their understanding of the "latter days"? 9. In what Old Testament passage do we see Hezekiah attempting to reunite Israel and Judah under his rule as a son of David? 10. Where do we see New Testament authors speak of the church as the bride of Christ, much like Hosea? Mention the passages. 11. Did both the Old Testament and the New Testament authors make it clear that Gentiles could become part of the people of God by being adopted or grafted into the family of Abraham? 12. What theological expression derives its name from the phrase "the latter days"? 13. In what passage do we see the apostle Peter allude to the first two chapters of Hosea in describing the early church? 14. When will Hosea's hope for blessings after judgment be completely fulfilled? APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. Can you think of times in your own life when you have seen both judgment and blessing combined in the same experience? Explain one of your experiences. 2. How does the fact that God combines both judgment and hope in the prophecies of Hosea change the way you look ahead to possible difficult experiences in the future? Give an example. 3. The prophecies of Hosea include both judgment and hope of blessing. How do we see both judgment and blessing in the death of Christ on the cross? THE PROPHETIC WISDOM OF HOSEA STUDY GUIDE 2.2 Lesson 2: Revelations for the Wise Section 2: Unfolding Judgment OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES II. Unfolding Judgment A. Original Meaning 1. Israel’s Rebellion 2. Judah’s Rebellion B. Modern Application 1. Bride of Christ 2. Latter Days in Christ REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Hosea's prophecies focusing on God's lawsuits originated when he received revelations about Assyria's invasion in what year? 2. Hosea's prophecies of God's call for alarm stemmed from revelations he initially received about Assyria's invasion in what year? 3. In Hosea 4:2, what Old Testament text did Hosea allude to when he said that Israel was full of "swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery." 4. ________ was a fundamental violation of the loyalty of God required of his people. 5. Did the leaders of Israel utterly reject their national religious traditions? 6. What examples does the lesson give of "temporary judgments"? 7. Which king of Judah promoted idolatry and injustice and trusted in an alliance with Assyria and Assyria's god's to gain protection from his enemies? 8. Many interpreters believe Hosea 5:10 refers to Ahaz's attempt to annex territories in whose land in retaliation for Israel's attacks during the Syrian-Israelite coalition? 9. Of what were Hezekiah's fortifications a symbol, as mentioned in Hosea 8:14? 10. In Israel and Judah, was a clear distinction made between the visible people of God and the invisible people of God? 11. Jesus didn't ________ his bride in his first advent. 12. In Luke 24:46-47, Jesus applied what Old Testament passage to himself? 13. In what passage do we see Hosea 6:6 quoted in the New Testament? APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. Did the people of Israel and Judah listen to Hosea's prophecies and repent of their unfaithfulness? What happened as a result? What can we learn from this? 2. How did God also show grace and mercy to Israel and Judah, in spite of their sin? What can we learn from this? THE PROPHETIC WISDOM OF HOSEA STUDY GUIDE 2.3 Lesson 2: Revelations for the Wise Section 3: Unfolding Hope OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES III. Unfolding Hope A. Original Meaning 1. God’s Responses, 2. People’s Responses B. Modern Application 1. Bride of Christ 2. Latter Days in Christ Conclusion REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Hope for God's blessings of the latter days is found in God's ________ responses to his people, but these blessings will come only as God's people respond ________ to his ________. 2. God's comparison of Israel to "fruit" in Hosea 9:10-12 reflected on how he cherished Israel in the days of ________. 3. God's comparison of Israel to a "planted palm" in 9:13-17 reflected on how he planted the tribes of Israel in ________. 4. God's comparison of Israel to a "luxuriant vine" in Hosea 10:1-10 points to the days of ________. 5. What is common among all five metaphors in Hosea 9-14? 6. What two things needed to happen if Judah's leaders wanted to see God withdraw his curses and begin to lead his people toward the blessings of the latter days? 7. Is it true that, since Judah didn't have a long history of rebellion in the past, Hosea focused on Judah's response in their current circumstances? 8. "They shall come trembling like birds from ________, and like doves from the land of ________, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord." (Hosea 11:11) 9. Used in Hosea 12:5, what did "the Lord, the God of hosts" refer to? 10. Who was the "faithful people who would turn to God for salvation and would receive his everlasting blessings"? 11 According to the lesson, did Matthew know that Hosea referred directly to Jesus in Hosea 11:1? 12. The apostle Paul referred to the consummation of the latter days in 1 Corinthians 15 by quoting what passage from Hosea? APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. What does it mean to you to know that the Church is the bride of Christ? How does it make you feel? How does it change your life? 2. What things do you especially look forward to when Christ establishes the final eternal stage of His kingdom? 3. How do the lessons from Hosea help you in your relationship with God? 4. How do the lessons from Hosea help you relate to others? 5. What were you expecting to get out of this course when you started? 6. What is the most important lesson you have learned in this course? For other resources, please visit Third Millennium Ministries at thirdmill.org. © 2018 by Third Millennium Ministries. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means for profit, except in brief quotations for the purposes of review, comment, or scholarship, without written permission from the publisher, Third Millennium Ministries, Inc., 316 Live Oaks Boulevard, Casselberry, FL 32707 USA.