Chapter Five
There’s a common problem with repentance. We don’t like it, and don't really want it. Most of us prefer joy.
I’ve read, but can’t find the reference again, that it is critical to “steward the spirit of repentance until all the repentance is done” if we hope to have true revival. As I began to look at Hosea 5, I thought, “I’m tired of hearing about sin and repentance.” You might have begun to feel the same. If we don’t steward the spirit of repentance, however, we won’t get to the full revival God has planned.
I don’t want to miss anything God wants to give, so let’s choose to push past our impatience and embrace the repentance God requires. Let’s “steward the spirit of repentance until all the work of repentance is done.”
Prayer Pause:
We’ve worked hard for more than a month. It’s easy to grow weary in well-doing, but Galatians 6:9 tells us not to quit.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9 NLT)
Pause for a moment and pray for stamina and the willingness to stay in God’s Word. Pray that you will continue until, at just the right time, you reap the harvest of blessing only possible from knowing God’s Word. Pray, too, that I will be consistent and faithful in writing the study.
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HOSEA 5:1
Hosea uses a “three-fold” technique repeatedly in this book. We see this in verse one. God calls three groups to account: the priests, the people, and the king. To be perfectly clear, He says (Leanna Paraphrase):
“Listen up, priests, people, and king. No one gets off because the others’ sins are worse. You are all full of sin. I’m judging every one of you.”
This should a sobering word for us, as well. Even when our leaders (both civil and religious) fail to lead us in a godly direction, we are still accountable for our own choices and our own sin. Ignorance is not an excuse, even if the “priests” have failed to teach as they should.
Our personal knowledge of God’s word and our intimacy with Him is our own responsibility, and God will hold us accountable for the choices we make. Did we know His Word and did we live it? We’ll answer that question one day, so let’s be sure we like the answer we’ll have to give.
All three groups of people (king, priests, people) have been a snare at Mizpah.
The first mention of Mizpah is in Genesis 31:49, concerning the final parting between Laban and Jacob. They set up a pillar of stones and called it Mizpah. The two men agreed to make a covenant between them. Neither would pass the pillar of stones to harm the other.
Laban told Jacob, “If you mistreat my daughters, I won’t see it, but God will. This pillar is a witness between us and a reminder that God’s eyes will be on you.” (Leanna Paraphrase)
1) Look in Blue Letter Bible to find the meaning of Mizpah and write it here.
Scroll down and look at all the places the word is also used. You can read more about Mizpah here:
Here’s a blog about Mizpah that you might have missed:
Prayer Pause:
Stop for a moment and thank God for His tender watch care over us and over those we love. Thank Him for the ways He has shown his never-failing attention to us, His people, in the past and the ways He will continue to watch over us in the future.
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Over the years, there were several places named Mizpah. The Mizpah located in Gilead became a kind of meeting place for the nation in times of crisis. If the people were called to meet at Mizpah, they knew it wasn’t good. There was a problem and someone would likely be called to account.
Read Judges 19-21. (Pay close attention to this story, because we will see it again later in Chapter 5.) The men of Gibeah (tribe of Benjamin) had committed a heinous crime against a Levite’s concubine. (I’m not impressed by the Levite throwing the concubine to the men in order to save his own skin, but his culpability is not the issue here.)
2) What happened and what was the Levite’s response?
When Israel gathered together in Mizpah, the tribe of Benjamin refused to join them. They knew they would be asked to answer to the nation for their failure to hold the men accountable, so they opted to stay home. They knew the guilt was theirs.
To give them the benefit of the doubt, they might have dreaded the public accounting, but, judging by what came next, it's more likely that they knew about what had happened and didn’t care.
Israel sent men to the tribe of Benjamin, asking that the offenders be turned over for judgment.
3) What was Benjamin’s response? Judges 20:13,14
A huge civil war broke out between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of the nation (the other eleven tribes) because the leaders of Benjamin defended those who had committed such wickedness.
The tribe of Benjamin believed that they had a military advantage, and they were willing to take the risk of battle. They had 26,000 warriors with swords and 700 choice men (good soldiers) who were left-handed. There’s nothing wrong with being left-handed. (I’m left-handed. Although I’ve done far too much wrong in my life, none of it was because I’m left-handed.) Although left-handers were disqualified for some temple jobs, it was a kind of benefit for the warriors.
The left-hand-dominant soldiers were extremely talented, and they had a distinct advantage in battle against the right-handed soldiers. Judges 20:16 says they could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” They didn’t have to do up-close hand-to-hand combat with swords. They could sling a stone at a soldier a distance away and knock him to the ground. Every time.
The eleven tribes had 400,000 warriors with swords, and all of them were “men of war”. (Judges 20:17) The Eleven far outnumbered Benjamin in terms of warriors. They expected an easy victory.
The Eleven devised their plan, then told God about it. They didn’t ask God if they should go to war, just who should go first. (Judges 20:18) 22,000 men of the eleven tribes died in that battle. After they were soundly defeated, the Eleven’s warriors arrayed themselves to fight again.
The sons of Israel, however, wept before the Lord and asked Him if they should go up to battle again. This time, God said go. Benjamin defeated them again. 18,000 more men died.
At last, the sons of Israel and all the people went to Bethel, wept, prayed before the Lord, fasted, and sacrificed. They “got right” before God. Only then did they asked Him what to do.
It was at the point of brokenness and repentance, of fasting and sacrifice, that God promised to deliver them.
This is an important principle that we need to understand. When we try to fight God’s battles our way, we’re destined to fail. It is when we come to the end of ourselves that we find God waiting for us and ready to offer His direction to accomplish His plan.
Prayer Pause:
Let’s take a moment to confess the times we’ve made our own plan and tried to cajole God into following it. Ask Him to help us wait for Him to lead before we move. Pray for willingness to fight God’s battles His way. Thank Him that His plan is much better than ours. (Jeremiah 29:11)
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This time, the Eleven went to battle again, but they had a better plan, because it was God’s plan. They set an ambush.
The battle was fierce, “but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them.” (Judges 20:34) They were so arrogant and intent on protecting their evil that they never considered defeat a possibility.
When the Eleven began to close in, Benjamin finally realized disaster was upon them, but it was too late to do anything. They were soundly defeated.
The leaders of Benjamin became a snare for the rest of the nation. They triggered a civil war. Many people, from both sides, died in the war.
Their actions also served as a trigger for sin from the leaders of Israel, who were very angry with Benjamin. The sin of the leaders of Israel served as a trigger for sin for the rest of the nation.
4) What did the leaders of Israel vow? Judges 21:1
5) What would have been the result of their vow? Judges 21:3
6) What solution did they devise to solve the problem they had created? Judges 21:10-25
Our own country faces just such a polarizing situation. The next few paragraphs are not about political agendas. They are a statement about holiness in the body of Christ.
We have the “Benjamins” who condone sin. They don’t care what people think about their decisions, and are willing to fight to have what they want.
We have the “Eleven tribes” who consider themselves the people of God, and want something done about the sin. They aren’t wrong about their righteous indignation, but it is critical that their response is right in God’s eyes.
The great danger is for our “Eleven tribes” to devise a solution of their own. When they do, they can expect no better results than the Eleven tribes of Israel had. The advice and counsel needed can only come from God alone, for the battle, and the victory, are God’s.
It is only when “The Eleven” of this country are ready to weep, pray, fast, sacrifice, and do battle God’s way, that any victory can be achieved.
7) What is God’s solution for healing a nation?
8) 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Write this verse here and spend some time this week memorizing it, if you haven’t already.
It was not necessary for the people of Benjamin to change their ways for God to heal the nation.
It wasn’t enough that the people of the Eleven tribes were “right” about the sin.
The victory was achieved only when the Eleven approached God in repentance and humility.
That same level of repentance and humility are desperately needed today.
It wasn’t enough that the people of the Eleven tribes were “right” about the sin.
The victory was achieved only when the Eleven approached God in repentance and humility.
That same level of repentance and humility are desperately needed today.
Prayer Pause:
Let’s stop to pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 over our nation. Pray that we, the body of Christ, will willingly humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our sin. Pray that God will forgive our sin and heal our land.
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Judges 21:25 sums up the situation in Israel at the time of the civil war.
9) What was wrong in the nation?
10) What parallels do you see in your own life? In our nation?
The metaphor “a net spread out on Tabor” refers to the battle of Deborah and Barak at Mount Tabor. A victory was won, but only after Barak failed as a leader and Deborah had to accompany him into battle.
11) Read Judges 4:4ff. What lessons can you draw from this passage?
Hosea 5:1 tells us that everyone was under judgment for their sin, from the highest authority to the lowest person in the nation, because they had become a snare to those who needed their leadership the most.
Hosea 5:2
There is a great word picture here, so head to Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/hos/5/2/t_conc_867002)
12) There are only five Hebrew words used in this sentence so look at all five of them and write their meaning and any pertinent alternate uses here:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The word translated as “revolters” can also be translated “swerver”. The word translated “chastise” might also be translated as “discipline” or “correction”.
The picture here is of someone who has swerved so far off the path of righteousness that they are knee-deep in the way of death. God, in a way, says to them, “I saw you when you veered off my path. I see you now, knee-deep in your sin. I’m about to discipline you and correct you.”
Here’s the beautiful, but unstated, truth. When we are so deep in sin that we can’t get ourselves out, God knows all about it, and He can handle it. He will correct us in such a way that He removes us from our swerving path and restores us to the paths of righteousness.
God’s goal is not just discipline, but correction. Repentance. Restoration.
13) How have you seen the truth of this verse in your own life?
14) How do you see the truth of this verse at work in the lives of those you love?
The remaining verses in this chapter deal with Ephraim/Israel and Judah.
Let’s look at Ephraim first. Ephraim was Joseph’s second son and was born in Egypt. (Joseph was Israel’s favorite son.)
15) What is the meaning of the name Ephraim? (See Genesis 41:52)
When Israel was on his deathbed, Jacob took his two sons to see him. Israel “adopted” the boys as his own. (See Genesis 48:5,6) An interesting thing happened when Israel blessed the two boys.
16) What blessing did Israel give Joseph? (Genesis 48:15-16)
17) What blessing did Israel give Manasseh? What blessing did he give Ephraim? (Genesis 48:17-21)
In a sense, Jacob/Israel, who stole the birthright and the blessing from his older brother, did the same thing to Joseph’s sons, giving the blessings to the younger son.
Take a moment to refresh your memory about the kings we studied at the beginning of Hosea 1, specifically about Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom.
18) From which tribe was Jeroboam? (You probably remember he first instituted the blended religion and the golden calves in Israel.)
Because of Jeroboam’s actions, the tribe of Ephraim was deeply involved with idolatry. Their involvement persisted for the remainder of the Northern Kingdom’s existence.
During the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, the tribe of Ephraim did a shocking thing that demonstrated the depth of sin in their hearts. Read Isaiah 7:1-9.
19) What alliance did Ephraim form and against what nation did they plot war?
{Before you leave Isaiah, take a moment to read the sign that God offered Ahaz (Isaiah 7:13-16) concerning the actions God would take and the sign by which time those actions would be accomplished. This is not for Hosea. We’re reading it because it’s beautiful (and sad for God’s people).}
Hosea 5:3
God makes it clear that He has seen the sin of both Ephraim and Israel.
20) What has Ephraim done?
21) What has Israel done?
Hosea 5:4
God says that their deeds will not allow them to return to Him.
22) Why can’t they return to God?
In a sense, they are consumed by the spirit of harlotry and they have lost all knowledge of God. Repentance would require them to turn completely away from their sin, but their desire for sin is much greater than their desire for God. It is not that they are unable to turn to God at all, but that they are unable to turn to God because they are unwilling to turn away from their sin.
Prayer Pause:
It’s easy to feel indignant toward the people of Israel. I have a hard time understand how God’s people could prefer their sin to following Him, until I remember my own foolish past. Pray that we, and those we love, will have hearts willing to relinquish our sin in order to have the relationship with God that He desires for us.
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Hosea 5:5
This verse makes reference to the court case God has against Israel, (Hosea 4:1) but extends the case to include Judah.
23) Who was the pride of Israel who testifies against them?
Hosea 5:5 indicates they have “stumbled”. We saw this same word in Hosea 4:5.
24) Review it’s meaning in Blue Letter Bible.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3782&t=NASB
This same word is used in Jeremiah 18:15-17 to speak of the sin of God’s people.
25) Compare this passage in Jeremiah with Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14 and make notes here.
Hosea 5:6 says Israel and Judah will try to “fix” the problem their sin has created.
26) What do they do? (vs.6)
27) How does God respond? (vs 7)
28) Why does God respond in this way? (vs 7) See Psalm 51:16 and Hosea 6:6
God clearly established the entire sacrifice-for-the-remission-of-sin system, but He wanted more than dead animals roasting on a spit.
29) What were the sacrifices supposed to represent?
30) What did the sacrifices represent this time?
31) What does God desire instead?
Hosea 5:7 refers to their treachery against God by bearing “illegitimate children.” We’ve looked at this before in Hosea. Read Hosea 2:4 again and refer back to your notes.
32) In what way had God’s people born “illegitimate children”?
Hosea 5:8
The “horn” refers to a shofar, a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn. The word “shofar” comes from a root word that means “glisten” or “beautiful”. The idea here is to “shine forth with sound’. Follow the link below to read an article about the shofar and the reasons for sounding it. {The http://ohr.edu website has quite a big of information about Judaism and is worth perusing at your leisure.}
33) Why would God call for the blowing of the shofar in this passage? (See reasons # 7 and 8)
If you’re interested in hearing a rabbi blow a shofar, and see the old city of Jerusalem and the wailing wall, click on the link below. (You might want to warn anyone in the room with you before you do.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0A_cPlHlk
The “trumpet” mentioned here refers to a long, slender, straight horn, similar to the silver trumpets mentioned in Numbers 10:1-9.
34) For what reasons would the trumpets be blown?
Here’s a link to an energetic video in which silver trumpets are played.
The sounding of the shofar and trumpet suggest that judgment is at hand and serves as a warning to God’s people.
Take note of the locations mentioned here. Gibeah and Ramah were both cities in the territory of Benjamin. Gibeah was the site of the murder of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19-21 and is a reference to the battle at Mizpah in which the tribe of Benjamin was defeated by an ambush from behind. (You can refer to your notes on Hosea 5:2 for a refresher.)
As you probably remember, the tribe of Benjamin arrogantly believed that their small numbers and left-handed warriors could defeat the much larger army of The Eleven Tribes. Benjamin did not realize destruction was at hand until it was too late. By the time they realized they were in serious trouble, they were already surrounded and defeat was imminent.
In Hosea 5:8, God says to His people that judgment is upon them, but they are too arrogant to recognize it. They are surrounded and, though they do not realize it, their destruction cannot be avoided.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of Ramah in Jeremiah 31:15.
35) What did he describe?
Hosea 5:9-14
God outlines what will happen to Ephraim, Israel, and Judah. We will look at each one separately, and then look at what God says about what He will do in response to their sin.
JUDAH
36) What simile is used to describe the actions of the Princes of Judah? (see v. 10 and Deuteronomy 19:14) (They have become “like” what?)
37) What is wrong with moving a boundary?
38) When Judah realized what a mess they were in, to whom did they go for help? (see v. 13)
39) What nation would eventually take Israel/Ephraim into captivity?
It stuns me that Judah (and Ephraim) would turn to their enemy for help. If they had only remembered, their help came from the Lord. (Psalm 121:2) Repentance could have changed everything, but they, in a way, “sowed the wind and reaped a whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7)
Prayer Pause:
To whom do we turn when we reap the consequences of our sin? To the world or to our Lord?
Let’s pause now to pray that we (and those we love) will allow the consequences of our sin to drive us to our kneess rather than deeper into the sin of the world.
EPHRAIM
Ephraim is used interchangeably with Israel in this passage.
40) What sin has triggered Ephraim’s consequences? (v.11)
41) When Ephraim encountered consequences, to whom did He turn?
The Northern Ten Tribes (Israel) were taken captive by King Shalmaneser V in 722 BC and transported to Assyria.
Before we leave Chapter five, let’s look a little deeper at verse 12. God says He will be like a moth to Ephraim.
42) What kind of damage does a moth do?
In verse 13, both Ephraim and Judah turn to Assyria for help, but the Assyrian king is unable to heal the wound of their sin-sickness.
43)What does Scripture says about God as healer? (Psalm 103:2-4, Isaiah 53:4-5)
Prayer Pause:
It is sometimes easier to turn to the world for help instead of to the body of Christ. That should not be. What does God’s Word say about helping one another and bearing one another’s burdens? (Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Galatians 6:2) How faithful are you to help those in need? How willing are you to help those who are enmeshed in a sinful lifestyle? Those who are prodigals and find themselves in the pigpen of life and ready to get out? What changes do you need to make?
Let’s pray for hearts willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus and willing to give mercy and grace in the same measure He has given to us.
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THE DIVINE RESPONSE
Hosea 5:9-14
Now, we turn to a look at God's response to the sin of His people.
a) His Word is sure.
My NASB and the NIV translate this as “I declare what is sure.” The KJV is (in my opinion) closer to the Hebrew: “Among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.” This is not a question. It is a statement of certainty. God has declared that Ephraim will be a desolation and there is no doubt. The judgment will not be turned back.
Here’s the link to Blue Letter Bible for Hosea 5:9: https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/hos/5/8/t_conc_867009
44) What else does God say He will do? (I’ve done the first one - (a) - for you.)
b) see verse 11
c) see verse 12
d) see verse 14 (re: Ephraim)
e) see verse 14 (re: Judah)
f) see verse 15
In Hosea 5:15, God explains His purpose in the punishment He delivers to His people.
45) What will He accomplish? When?
We’ve seen the punishment, now let’s look at what precipitated the punishment.
Jeremiah writes about the discipline of God toward Israel and Judah. “Your wound is incurable,” He told them. Read Jeremiah 30:12-22 to find out what God has planned for His people after the time of discipline is accomplished. (In the latter days)
46) What will God do?
We serve a God whose great desire is for repentance and redemption. He disciplines as a father, to train us to become the men and women of God He intended us to be.
Let’s end this chapter by reading 1 Corinthians 11:32 and Hebrews 12:7-11.
Ponder the gift of discipline from God for a few minutes.
47) Why does God discipline his children?
48) How has God disciplined you?
49) What did you learn from divine discipline?
Prayer Pause:
Take a moment to thank God for the gift of discipline. Thank Him that He only disciplines to make us more like Him. Pray for an humble, gentle heart that desires to be more like Christ and less like the world. Be sure to invite Him to cleanse and change you so that you can be the light that glows with the love of God to the rest of the world.
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Closing thoughts:
I’ve said it many times, but I have to say it again. Well done. I’m so proud of you. It warms my heart and gives me great joy to see you in the Word, learning what God has for you, allowing Him to change you.
Thank you and congratulations. You’re 1/3 of the way through Hosea! I’m proud of you for persevering, and I’m counting on the work of the Holy Spirit to bring forth a harvest in all our hearts and lives.
A little extra:
The photos above are from Beth-Shan. It was a large, and probably very exciting, city in Israel, believed to be the "far country" to which the prodigal son went. As you can see, the city now lies in ruins.
It's a wonderful picture of the sin we so eagerly embrace. It may seem beautiful and exciting at the moment, but sin leaves only destruction behind.
Here's the link to Chapter Six. Don't stop now. The best is yet to come.
Here's the link to Chapter Six. Don't stop now. The best is yet to come.
#Hosea #Biblestudy #indepthBiblestudy
