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E-Pistle

FreeWay Foundation            November 22, 2013

 

Hosea's "new Testament" Insights

(Hosea 6:1-11)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Hosea called that nation to repentance, offering the hope that God would

                 heal and restore them. And promising the Lord's refreshing, abundant

                 blessing, vv. 1-3.

            2.  Hosea mourned in his spirit because the nation's faithfulness to the Lord

                 was so temporary; he pointed out that God requires true spiritual

                 commitment which produces lives characterized by mercy and loyalty,

                 not mere empty religious ritual, vv. 4-6.

            3.  Hosea mentioned two particularly wicked cities (Gilead and Shechem)

                 Which exemplified the nation's blood-lust and lewdness, vv. 7-9.

            4.  Hosea cried out against the spiritual adultery of Israel, and he predicted

                 that God's wrath and judgment ("harvest") also would come upon the

                 nation of Judah, vv. 10-11.  (See also verse 4)

II.  Meditation:  on some interesting verses in this chapter

            1.  "On the third day He will raise up," v. 2.

            2.  "He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to

                 the earth," v. 3

            3.  "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? . . . For your faithfulness is like

                 a  morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away," v. 4

            4.  "For I desire mercy not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than

                 burnt offerings," v.6

III.  Revelation:  on Hosea's "New Testament" insights

            1.  God's promise to "raise up" Israel on the third day (like Jonah's rescue from

                 The belly of the fish after three days) foreshadowed Christ's resurrection

                 From the tomb, Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40; Luke 12:46.

            2.  Hosea's prophecy of God's coming "like the latter and former rain" (the

                 "latter" is the spring rain just before harvest, and the "former" is the autumn

                 rain at planting time) pictures God's pouring out of His Holy Spirit on the

                 Day of Pentecost, Joel 2:34, 28-32; Acts 2:16-21.

            3.  God's heart-cry, "O Ephraim," is reflected in the words of Jesus as He wept

                 over the city of Jerusalem, Matthew 23:27; Luke 13:34.

            4.  Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 to prove that God requires a true spiritual relationship

                 and commitment from man, not just "lip service."

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Live a resurrected life of faith . . . as a faithful disciple of Christ.

            2.  By continually being filled with the Holy Spirit.

            3.  Intercede with a broken heart over the sins of my city, state, and nation,

                 earnestly praying for the Lord's mercy and grace.

            4.  Offer myself as a "living sacrifice" to God, Romans 12:1-2.

 

 

 

Commended as ministers of god

(II Corinthians 6:1-18)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on a minister's perseverance through persecutions ("IN" – vv. 4-5)

            1.  In much patience

            2.  In tribulations

            3.  In needs

            4.  In distresses

            5.  In stripes

            6.  In imprisonments

            7.  In tumults

            8.  In labors

            9.  In sleeplessness

          10.  In fastings

II.  Meditation:  on a minister's principles and priorities ("BY" – vv. 6-8)

            1.  By purity

            2.  By knowledge

            3.  By long-suffering

            4.  By kindness

            5.  By the Holy Spirit

            6.  By sincere love

            7.  By the word of truth

            8.  By the power of God

            9.  By the armor of righteousness

          10.  By honor and dishonor

          11.  By evil and good reports

III.  Revelation:  on a minister's perspectives and paradoxes ("AS" – vv. 8-10)

            1.  As deceivers, yet true

            2.  As unknown, yet well known

            3.  As dying, and behold we live

            4.  As chastened, yet not killed

            5.  As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing

            6.  As poor, yet making many rich

            7.  As having nothing, yet possessing all things

            "O Corinthians!  We have spoken openly to you, out heart is wide open,"  v. 11.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian minister, I should comment myself to others . . .

            1.  In perseverance through persecutions:  by what I DO

            2.  By prioritizing Godly principles:  by what I THINK

            3.  As perceiving spiritual paradoxes:  by what I SEE

            4.  Through speaking with a wide open heart:  by what I SAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the staff at

FreeWay Foundation and Pillsbury College & Seminary

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

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