Hosea 10

Week 6, Sunday: Sow differently to reap differently
God counsels His people to seek Him and sow a new way of life for the generations to come. Here, in the face of imminent judgment, is a message of hope and a promise of restoration.

Read Hosea 10

Meditate on Hosea 10.12-15
1.  Summarize all that Israel had “sowed” to bring God’s judgment upon the nation (v. 13). Be as specific as you can from what we’ve seen thus far.

2.  Trusting in men rather than God was Israel’s big mistake (v. 13). How can we know when we are trusting in men rather than God? When our churches are doing so?

3.  Hosea depicts God as very active in history, culture, and even international affairs. Is this still true? Explain.  

4.  Mediate on verse 12. What was God promising His people on the other side of judgment? Why did He bother to do so? The generation of Hosea’s day would not realize this promise in their lifetimes. What does this teach us about how we must think about the promises of the Lord?

5.  “Sow”, “break up”, and “seek”: Explain what each of these verbs requires of us today.  

Summary
God is God, and He will defend His honor by bringing judgment to bear against those who dishonor Him. But He will fulfill His promises, precisely as He has promised, in His way and time. Repentance must begin even before judgment falls, for thus we put ourselves in line to enjoy the promised restoration of the Lord.

Closing Prayer
O God, You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again!
You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
You have shown Your people hard things;
You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.

Psalm 60.1-5

T. M. Moore

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Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For all available studies in Hosea, click here.

A primary theme of the book of Hosea is Israel’s failure to keep covenant with the Lord. God’s covenant is a central theme and provides the organizing motif for all of Scripture. Learn more about God’s covenant by ordering a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store (click here).

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.