Hosea Part 1

Hosea was a prophet in the 8th Century BC, prophesying to the northern kingdoms, warning them of impending judgment. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the way God drew parallels between Hosea’s own life and the relationship between God and Israel.

1) Why do Christians often refer to marriage as a “covenant?” What is the difference between a covenant and a mere agreement? In the context of a human marriage, what could break such a covenant? It may be helpful to refer to Matthew 6:31-34 or 19:1-9.

2) What is Hosea commanded to do in verse 2?
Note that there is some ambiguity here. Based on what comes next we can say at a minimum that Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea after the marriage, likely as a prostitute. To see this, note that the children are referred to as children of unfaithfulness or adultery (see 2:4). The whole analogy to Israel is that Israel is already “married” to God, but has committed adultery by going after other gods. In 3:2, she must be bought back out of prostitution. It is possible that she was already a prostitute when he married her initially, and that she went back to her old ways after the marriage.

3) What is the significance of the children Gomer had and their names?
Given that the children are referred to as children of unfaithfulness, it may be significant that only the first child is specifically noted as being born to Hosea. The other two children may be by other men. The names, especially the last two, indicate the consequences of the unfaithfulness.

4) What signs of hope do we see in 1:10-2:1?
The judgment of the previous verses is reversed, new names are given. But how can this be? Take time to imagine how surprising these verses might have been.

5) In 2:2, Gomer’s children are probably being addressed, but this serves as a transition to the charge being made against Israel. What are the charges against Israel in 2:2-13 and what are the consequences?

6) What does 2:14-23 indicate about God’s ultimate plan for Israel? What does this tell us about what God is like? Pay particular attention to verse 8. Can we see this sin in ourselves? Everything we have is from God. Do we take what God has given us and then use it to pursue things that are not godly? If so, should we describe our own actions as “adultery?”

7) What command is Hosea given in verse 3:1? How is he supposed to model for Israel the love of God? Try to imagine yourself in his position. What would it take for you to love an adulterous spouse that way? Take time to let this image focus our minds on the depths of God’s love for us and the meaning of grace.

8) In what ways do verses 3:2-4 foreshadow what Christ accomplishes?
He redeems us from our own form of slavery and is the new King who will finally reunify his people. David was from Judah, so talking about the Kingship of David to the people of the northern kingdom was a bold prophecy.

Isaiah 58

Read Isaiah 58 straight through.

Have you had times of turning away from the poor or the hungry? Why did you?

Sometimes we are skeptical of the "poor" in our culture. What has caused us to have this attitude (whether legitimately or not)?

If God were to write a letter to Cornerstone Church in the same manner as Isaiah 58, what do you think He would point out to us?

As believers we tend to "pick and choose" the things we want to obey in the Bible. Can you think of things that are relatively easy for you to obey? What are the things that are difficult for you to obey?

Over one-half of the chapter is God's promise to restore and reward His people. Sometimes we miss this - we find ourselves focusing on the verses that point out our guilt. God wants to draw us to the truth with promises of joy and refreshment and strength. It is AWESOME to walk with God and obey His Word. Pray for one another to that end.

James 5:19-20

As we wrap up the book of James, ask yourself, “What have I learned from this book?” Remember, this was an “I:Exam” and James cautioned us not to be merely “hearers of the Word," but “doers” also. What are you “doing” as a result of studying James?

The final sentence of James tells us that we are to pursue those who wander from the truth. What is often our attitude toward “wanderers?”

Have you ever wandered from the truth? What did God do to bring you back?

Go back and read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19. He was a man “just like us” (Js. 5:17). How does his story encourage you in your walk of faith?

We are about to turn our attention to some OT prophets. Spend some time reading Isaiah 58. What are some themes you find there?

James 5:13-18

Read through the passage and write down the questions that come to mind.

Now use the knowledge you have gained in your study of James to find possible solutions to your questions. Keep the context (theme of the book, flow of chapter 5, etc.) in mind as you do.

The word "pray" or "prayer" is found often in this passage. Clearly that is James' main point. What does your prayer life look like? Be specific as you describe how, when, and where you pray.

This passage is strong in its appeal to confess your sins to other Christ-followers (either elders or one another). Take this command seriously. If not in the full group, make sure to find a believer who is mature and whom you trust and take them aside to confess your sins.

What are some other passages that teach us the value of confession? Why do we ignore these teachings far too often? What keeps us from confessing our sins as God would have us to?

What will you do this week to strengthen your life of prayer?