Session 8 Hosea 6:1–7:2

RETURN (HOSEA 6:1-3)

words of hope for those who have abandoned their faith.

1 Come, let’s return to the LORD. For he has torn us, and he will heal us;
he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds.
2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up
so we can live in his presence.

3 Let’s strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn.
He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.

IDENTIFY:

Call for the group to share the words of hope they identified,

• heal, bind up,
• revive, raise , live

EXPLAIN:

Point out that in Hosea 6:2, we are provided with a hint about the restoration of Israel
as well as the salvation to come through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:21 NASB

From that time Jesus began to show His disciples
that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. NASB

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep,
so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord,
will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

ASK:

• How does the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus demonstrate the depth of God’s desire for people to turn to Him in repentance? (p. 71)

DISCUSS:

Read aloud Hosea 6:3
listen for what God wants from His people.

Ask:

• What does it mean to strive?

REFERENCE:

Direct attention to the memory verse for this session, Hosea 5:15,
and read it together.

Hosea 5:15

I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.

Ask:

• How does this verse impact your picture of repentance?

TRANSITION:

Hosea echoed God’s disdain for Israel’s short-lived commitments and ritual practices.
God sent prophets who pronounced God’s judgment for the people’s lack of loyalty.