OT Characters: Hosea

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.Hebrew words:Hoshea’ (Hosea) – salvation. 3x in Hosea, 1x in Romans.Gomer (Gomer) – possibly "complete" (possibly completion of ripeness) or "vanishing." 1x in the Bible.Yizre’el (Jezreel) – “God scatters”Lo’-ruchamah (Lo-Ruhamah)– “Not pitied”Lo’-‘ammi – (Lo-Ammi) “Not my people”Further study:Cited in this podcast:James 4:4; Hosea 5:4, 14-15; 6:1-6; 7:13bHosea 1:2-10Hosea 2:13 (Jeremiah 2:32); 3:1-5; 4:6 and 8:12Scriptures equating spiritual unfaithfulness with adultery: Deuteronomy 32:15, Isaiah 1:21, Jeremiah 3:1, 5:7, 13, etc; Ezekiel 6, 16, 23; Matthew 16:4; Mark 10:11; James 4:4.Passages on a divorced woman not returning to her husband Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Jeremiah 3:1, Hosea 3:1.God seeks reconciliation 5x in the flow of Hosea: 1:10-2:1, 2:14-23, 3:1-5, 11:8-11, 14:1-7.For a couple of questions arising from the book, click on Hosea 1:4 and Hosea 6:2.Study the New Testament citations: 1:10 in Romans 9:26; 2:23 in Romans 9:25; 6:6 in Matthew 9:13, 12:7; 10:8 in Luke 23:30; 10:12 in 2 Corinthians 9:10, Hebrews 12:11; 11:1 in Matthew 2:15; 13:4 in 1 Corinthians 15:55; 12:7 in Revelation 3:17; 14:2 in Hebrews 13:5.Some things we learn about God:God’s love for us is unfathomable.Our relationship with God is jeopardized by our forgetfulness and ingratitude.When we are spiritually unfaithful, God feels the pain of a husband hurt by an adulterous wife.God leaves the door open; there is always a chance for repentance, provided we are willing.For kids (two ideas):1. Explore the concept of faithfulness for children: What is faithfulness? Discuss how faithfulness builds and protects relationships.What would be faithful acts in their friendships, (sibling relationships, etc)? Unfaithful acts? Discuss how unfaithfulness hurts friendships. Have they ever been hurt by a friend, brother or sister? How did they react?Share about Hosea and how he was hurt by unfaithfulness. How did he react? What did God tell him to do? God uses Hosea to help us get a picture of how unfaithfulness hurts our friendship with God, and how great God's love and grace are to forgive us.How can we show faithfulness to God? How can we show forgiveness like God?2. Check out the lesson from www.eBibleTeacher.com.Key verses:Hosea 1:2 – The prophet is to marry a woman who will be unfaithful to him.Hosea 3:1 – The people of God can start over again.Hosea 4:4 – The people of God are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Hosea 6:6 – The Lord looks for mercy, not sacrifice.Next lesson: Amos, the penultimate podcast in the series.