Bible Study: Hosea 5:8-6:6

Hosea 5:8-6:6. God wants a repentant relationships with us not just rule keeping.

Key: italics=sub questions.
(Ephraim=Israel).

Why does sorry seem to be the hardest word?

Hosea 5:8-15 God is our judge

1. How else have Gods people and their leaders acted unfaithfully? (what have they done, who have they put their faith in)

2. What more do we learn about God’s coming judgment? (What does it look like?)

3. What does God want his people to do when they see the effect of sin? (v15).

Hosea 6:1-10. True repentance = True relationship with God.

4. What does Israel decide to do? What is good about what they say?

5. What does God know about their love for him? Can you spot what is missing from Israel’s return. What kind of thing does God still see his people doing (7-10).

6. What does God desire people to display? How does this help us understand the kind of religion he is pleased by?

7. How can we as church members be like Israel was in Hosea’s day? Do you ever ask God for his blessings, and tell him you want him as your God, without being truly sorry for your sins or really being willing to change? How does God’s desire for a real religious attitude of heartfelt mercy rather than hypocritical one of outward performance encourage and challenge you?

Application

During his life on earth Jesus quoted Hosea’s words, which is really helpful to us and really important to understand.

Matthew 9:9-13

8. Why don’t the Pharisees like what Jesus is doing?

9. Why do the Pharisees need to learn the lesson of Hosea 6 v 6? How does Matthew show us a right response to Jesus?

10. What can we learn from Hosea 6 and Matthew 9:9-13 about truly turning back to God?

11. Why, as a follower of Jesus, will we show mercy to others?

12. How can we encourage true, heartfelt repentance among our Christian friends? (what might get in the way, what things might we sometimes say that actually obstruct this repentance?)

Personal taking home questions

When and why do you find it difficult to say sorry to God?

When and why do you find it hard to show mercy to others?

Prayer points: confessing sins will prompt us to say sorry. And it will remind us that we have received mercy and so need to show it to others.