Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

wind"eyes."whirlwind."substance"not"you."Lesson Helps for the Week of October 9, 1955c. y. p. u. topicfor October 9, 1955HOSEA, FORGIVING HUSBAND(subject by permission of C.E.)Comments byPsalm Suggestions:85, page 20732, page 7436,page 90;40, page 102100, page 23789, page 216Name: HoseaAddress: SamariaRev. Theodore F. HarshPersonnel File CardOccupation: Minister of the GospelOther activity: Religious reformerRemarks: "Hosea's sensitiveness accounts for his curious combination oftenderness and fierceness. His sense ofthe love of God made him very tender,and his sense of the way in which thislove was outraged made him like a lionfierce for prey. The lightning flashedfrom his tear-dimmedWalker, Doctrine of the ProphetsThe TimeHow does it feel to live in a nationthat is just on the verge of collapse,such as the Northern Kingdom of Israelin the eighth century B.C.? Most peopleliving in such a nation do not know howit feels because they are not aware ofthe nearness of disaster. Heedless towarnings they go on their merry sinningway. If they did know the real state ofaffairs, they might repent and turn toGod who is always willing to accept truerepentance and give restoring strengthand blessing. But "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:6).When the Kingdom of Israel wasdivided two hundred years before thetime of Hosea, Jeroboam I, a man wisein the ways of the world, had set upa national system of worship "devisedof his own heart" (I Kings 12:33readI Kings 12:26-33). He had "sown theand now Israel under JeroboamII was about to "reap theWho would have thought disaster wasabout to fall? Jeroboam II's reign wasan era of peace, prosperity, and luxury.In Samaria and the surrounding townsthe people indulged themselves in sumptuous living with the inevitable result ofphysical, mental and moral flabbiness.Amos came up from the south out ofthe wilderness to point out their danger,but they told him to go home andprophesy there.184Conspiracies and plots were so common that nobody trusted anybody. Highway robbery, murder, and organizedvice were accepted as almost normal.The religious leaders actually led organized bandit gangs. They were thebrains behind the rackets. Family lifehad gone to pieces. Regard for thesacredness of the home and marriagevows was at an all time low. The falseworship in foreign cults had brokendown the standards of morality andfaithfulness. Drunkenness and all thatgoes with it were fast breaking downhome life and ruining the minds ofthe people.What kind of hearts produced suchugly fruit? Sin ruled in all their hearts.The religious leaders had failed in theirhigh duty to lead the people to knowGod's Word. As a nation Israel had said,"... I will go after my lovers, that giveme my bread and water, my wool andmy flax, mine oil and my drink" (Hos.2:5b).Israel was interested in any god whoseemed to furnish the material thingsshe craved. Being ignorant of the trueGiver, she gropes in search of the bestsubstitute. "My people are destroyed forlack of knowledge . . Even in thisdeath""delirious dance of they arebrazen in conceit. "Yet I am becomerich, I have found me out(Hos. 12:8).God's Man for the TimeThere was one man who knew howit felt to live in a nation whose dayswere numbered, one whose physicaland spiritual eyes were open to thesituation. His name was Hosea,and,unlike Amos the foreigner, he was anative of the Northern Kingdom. He wasa true patriot. He loved his country somuch that he spent his entire life in aneffort to call his people back to God.Early in life Hosea fell in love withand married Gomer. He loved her devotedly. The marriage to him was anoath of allegience for life. She had ashallow, senseless idea of marriage thatwas to cause much sufferingfor bothof them. She could not understand hislove and proved herself unworthy of it,but he kept on loving her. She becameentangled in the web of sin and immorality about her. She finally soldherself as a slave to one who promiseda great deal. When she awoke to hertragic mistake,Hosea bought her back.God's Message for the TimeThe young preacher's heart wasbroken because Gomer did not understand him. Her years of association withhim should have increased her appreciation, but she never really knew him.Hosea represents God as one whoselove has been spurned. The people donot know God. Theyare insensible toall that is high and holy, unconsciousof God's love. They do not know Godand "mypeople are destroyed for lackof knowledge." Since they are unawareof the true nature of God's purpose forthem they cannot understand the loyalty, love, and service that characterizeone who is in covenant relation withGod.God,with great patience, has beenrevealing Himself to men (Hos. 6:6; 7:15; 8:12; 11:3; 12:10). But what was thereaction? (Hos. 6:7; 13:2, 6). Hosea declares God to be willing to go to anylengths to cause the people to pauseand come to know Him (Hos. 2:6, 7.Compare with Luke 15:17-19) (Hos. 9:7,17; 13:7-9). What does Hosea plead withthe people to do? (6:1-3; 12:6, and theentire 14th chapter).God's Message for our TimeHosea presents God as a lover seekingto make Himself known to men thatthey may return His love. He presentsman as ignorantly rejecting that love."He came unto His own, and His ownreceived Him(John 1:11). Hoseapresents God as freely pardoning andempowering those who repent, receivingand returning God's love. ("But as manyas received Him, to them gave He powerto become the sons of God . . John1:12)Additional Scripture references: John3:16, 17; I John 1:9; Luke 19:10; Rev.3:20; II Peter 1:4; I John 3:1; Romans5:8; I John 4:9-11; Psalm 32:5; Prov.28:13; Matt. 9:13 (cf. Hos. 6:6); I Tim.1:15; Isaiah 1:18-20; John 14:23; Heb.12:10.Review the "Brief Covenant" especially the "Confession of Sin."JUNIOR TOPICOctober 9, 1955ACTING A LIEJoshua 9:3-27Jean Mitchel, Glenwood, Minn.Memory verse: "Casting all your careupon Him; for He careth forPeter 5:7.Memory Psalm Psalm 2:1-3, 7, 8, page4.Psalms:127:1, 2, page 32237:3, 4, page 9140: 1-4, page 102106: 1, 2, page 260.COVENANTEE WITNESSI