Reflections on Hosea 8-10

On February 6, 2018February 3, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

Hosea is called to illustrate in his own life Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s love.

Righteousness or Iniquity – Hosea calls Israel to sow and reap righteousness and love, but instead they sow and reap iniquity and injustice (10:12-13). What are you sowing and reaping? How do you need to repent?
Eating Lies – Israel is eating the “fruit of lies” (10:13). What lies do you see in our culture? How is our culture eating the fruit of those lies? How are you tempted to do the same?

Hosea 8-14: A Call To Return

On February 5, 2018February 3, 2018 By BrianIn OT Studies

(8-13) What words, phrases, and pictures does Hosea use to describe Israel’s sin?

8:1 –

9:1, 10 –

10:1-2, 13 –

12:1, 7-8 –

13:2 –

In what ways are we tempted to follow Israel’s example?

What “fruit of lies” are we tempted to eat (10:13)?

What has Israel become because of their sin (8:8, 9:10, 13:3)?

(10-14) God calls Israel to return to him. What would such a return look like?

10:12 –

12:6 –

14:1-3 –

14:9 –

How is this different from the way many people think of repentance?

(11-14) Returning to the Lord is possible because of who God is. How does God reveal himself in 11:1-12, 13:4, and 14:8?

How do these verses encourage you?

(11-13) How does 11:1 and 13:14 point forward to Jesus (see Matthew 2:15 and I Corinthians 15:55)?

Reflections on Hosea 4-7

On February 1, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

God wants Israel to seek and know Him, but they have turned away and refuse to return.

Sin – Hosea recounts some of their sin in 4: 2. They swear, lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery. The latter three you may avoid in practice, but what about your heart: do you hate or get angry, covet, or lust (Matthew 5:21:30)? And how do you use your tongue? Do you swear or curse? Do you lie or deceive? Is there sin in your life for which you need to repent?
Know God – God wants his people to love him, to know him in a real relationship (6:6). But Hosea makes clear that they do not know God (4:1, 6; 5:4). How well do you know God? Not about God – how well do you know him? Are you seeking to grow in your relationship with God? Will you press on to know Him (6:3)?

Reflections on Hosea 1-3

On January 31, 2018January 31, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

Hosea is called to illustrate in his own life Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s love.

Unfaithfulness – Hosea marries a wife who is unfaithful – a vivid picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. In what ways can we be unfaithful to God? How does this picture reveal the horror of our sin?
Redeemed – Hosea redeems his wife and brings her back home. God will judge his people, yet he promises restoration. Jesus redeems us from our unfaithfulness. A day is coming when peace and righteousness and faithfulness will reign, and we will know the Lord (2:18-20). Praise the Lord for his incredible love for us!

Hosea 1-7: Whoredom and Hope

On January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What does God tell Hosea to do, and why (v2)?

How might we be unfaithful today (see James 4:4-5, Revelation 2:4-5)?

What does God tell Hosea to name his children, and why?

(4) For what sins does God condemn Israel in v1-2?

Give examples of how we see these sins in our country.

How are we tempted to excuse some of these sins as lesser sins? Does the church need to repent of some of these sins?

For what two main sins does God condemn Israel in v12-14? How might the former sin lead to the latter sin? How do we see this today?

What is the result of these sins in v3, and how might we see this today?

(4) The people don’t know God (v1,6). Why not (v4-6)?

How might we apply this point to our homes, churches, and nation?

(2-7) In what way are the people seeking the Lord, and why does God reject it (2:11, 5:6-7, 6:6)?

In what way does God want them to seek him (5:15)?

What application is there for us?

(1-3) What hope is given 1:10-2:1? How does this begin to play out in the New Testament (John 1:11-12, Ephesians 5:23)?

What further hope is given in 2:14-23? How do we see this play out in the New Testament (Matthew 9:15, II Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-32, Revelation 7:15-17, 19:6-9, 21:1-9)?

Reflections on Jonah 3-4

On January 25, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

Jonah goes to preach to Nineveh, and then is angry when the people respond to his message.

Obedience – God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah ran the other way. After God got his attention, Jonah finally went even though he didn’t want to. Are you currently acting in disobedience? Are you obeying only because you feel like you have to? Or are you obeying out of love for God and people?
Mercy – Jonah is a story about mercy. God shows mercy first to Jonah, and then to Nineveh. But Jonah doesn’t think God should show mercy to Nineveh, and so he is angry. What about you? God has shown you great mercy. Are you willing to extend that mercy to others?

Reflections on Jonah 1-2

On January 23, 2018January 22, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

God called Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but Jonah runs the other way.

Salvation – Jonah tells the sailors to sacrifice him to the sea to calm the storm, but the sailors try to save themselves. Many people today try to save themselves instead of looking to the sacrifice of Jesus. Where are you looking for salvation?
Hope – From the belly of the great fish, Jonah prays with hope that God will yet save him. At the same time, he recognizes that there is no hope for those who worship idols (v8). Where do you look for hope? Are you looking to God with hope in the “belly” of your great trial?

Jonah 1-4: Mercy

On January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) God calls Jonah to go to a wicked people, but Jonah doesn’t want to go. How does this contrast with Jesus?

What does Jonah attempt to do instead (v3, 4, 10)? Why might we attempt to do the same?

How well does Jonah’s attempt work? What happens?

The sailors try to save themselves. How do people try to save themselves today?

What did the sailors need to do instead? How does this point to Jesus?

(2) How would you describe Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish?

Where do you see his hope?

Why is there no hope for those who worship idols (v8)?

How might his prayer serve as a useful pattern for us?

What happens to Jonah? What does this tell us about God?

How does Jonah’s experience point to Jesus (Matthew 12:40)?

(3) What message does Jonah give to Nineveh, and how do they respond?

How does God respond? What does this tell us about God?

(4) How does Jonah respond? What does this tell us about Jonah?

Jonah was grateful when God extended mercy to him (2:9), but grumpy when God extended mercy to Nineveh. In what ways are we like Jonah? Why?

What lesson does God want Jonah (and us) to learn?

Reflections on Amos 6-9

On January 19, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

Amos sees five visions of judgment, and then closes the book with the promise of restoration.

Word of God – God tells Israel that soon there will be a famine of hearing the Word of God (8:11-12). God has spoken again and again, but they would not listen. Soon God will stop speaking. What a terrible judgment! Do you listen when God speaks? Are you seeking his Word?
Booth of David – God promises that he will raise up the fallen house of David and usher in a great time of blessing (9:11-15). God has raised up Jesus, a descendent of David, and when Jesus returns, these blessings will arrive. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Reflections on Amos 1-5

On January 16, 2018 By BrianIn OT Reflections

God is sending judgment upon the nations, and especially Israel, because of their sins. He calls Israel to return to Him.

Oppression – Israel was condemned for their oppression of the poor. They were violent; they robbed, they oppressed, they crushed the poor. All the while, they were getting rich (3:10-4:1). Are there ways that you oppress the poor? How might you help them instead?
Religion Game – God also condemned the people for playing the religion game. They continued to offer sacrifices and keep feasts and sing praises, but they were not walking with God. God called them to walk in justice and righteousness (5:21-24); without these things their rituals are empty. Are you walking with justice and righteousness? Or are you just playing the religion game?
Return – Again and again, God disciplined Israel, but they refused to return to him (4:6-11). God called the people to seek the Lord that they may live (5:4-6). He told them to seek good, rather than evil, that they might live (5:14-15). But they refused to listen. How has God disciplined you? Are you listening? Are you seeking the Lord? Are there ways you need to change?