Title: God's Love and Forgiveness / Hosea 14
Contents God's Love and Forgiveness / Hosea 14
- Introduction -
(Introduced as an activity. Distribute paper and writing instruments at the beginning of the game.)
1. Have a student read the entire 1 Corinthians 13: aloud, slowly and dramatically.
2. And especially, select verse 4 and read it personally so that you can understand its meaning well.
3. And, making use of the meaning of verse 4, have the students rewrite the contents in their own words (in slang, slang, etc. used by the main youth) or figuratively or with each other.
4. Then have them rewrite verses 5 and 6 as such.
5. Then have them present their writings. (After this presentation) Let's compare and study the love we think of and the love taught by the Old Testament prophet Hosea.
1. Hosea's central idea
The prophet Hosea lived at the same time as the prophet Amos, whom he had studied in the previous lesson. So the historical situation was almost the same. The difference is that Amos emphasized the injustice, corruption and immorality of that time on a social level, whereas Hosea emphasized it on a religious level based on the unchanging love and forgiveness of God experienced in personal and family life.
The central idea of Hosea is that Jehovah God and Israel entered into a covenant of love. I believe that Jehovah God first chose Israel and made them His people.
Therefore, they must keep each other's trust, love, devotion, and loyalty to each other. However, Israel has forsaken the covenant and departed from the LORD, sinning and betraying each other. Nevertheless, the central idea is that God always embraces and accepts us with his unchanging love.
Just as Prophet Amos cried out to respond to God with righteous deeds, Prophet Hosea realized that he was constantly enveloped in love for the betrayed Israel, and cried out for love and devotion to God and neighbor.
2. God’s love expressed in marriage
Hosea expressed God's love as a special form of marriage. It is believed that Jehovah God and Israel made a covenant with each other like the bride and groom who are getting married on Mount Sinai. This expression was purely an idea derived from one's own life experience.
In fact, Hosea had a wife named Gomer and three children. According to the text, Gomer was a prostitute before marrying Hosea. Hosea loved this gomer very much. Despite his love so dearly, Gomer abandoned Hosea for other lovers. Such injustice tore Hosea's heart. However, God's special revelation came to Hosea with this broken heart.
“Hosea, I know what you are going through. I had wept for Israel in the wilderness years ago. But Israel had no faith and followed other lovers. Israel would suffer for her sins. But I still love Israel, and someday I will turn back and return to true love and devotion.” was a revelation of the contents.
Here Hosea learned a deep lesson about God's love. So he bought his wife, who had left the house, from slavery again, and raised her as his wife and mother of three children. Indeed, God is showing us this kind of love.
3. Love in the Father's Interest
Hosea was a multi-talented prophet. He not only expressed God's love as a husband's love for his unfaithful wife, but he also described God's love as a father's love for his unclean and illegitimate son.
That is, God loved the Israelites from the very beginning as his own children. When we say [love] here, we mean [the love that God has chosen]. It is a historical fact that God first chose Israel as a people and allowed them to escape from slavery in Egypt, proving that they are Jehovah God as the father and Israel as the son. However, despite the father's choice as a son, Israel betrayed their Father, Jehovah God, and worshiped Paul. And even in the days of Hosea, he turned away from the Lord through all kinds of injustice and injustice. That is why the sons of Israel are pleading for repentance and return to the Lord, saying, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, but rather the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (6:6).
(Hos 11:8-11)
- activity -
[Topic: A Father's Love for the Prodigal Son]
(1) Improvise the words of the parable of Luke 15:11-32 as a role play.
Father station, eldest son station, second son station, mother station, servant station (3-4 people) Dong-ri Saram station, fat calf area, etc.
(2) For each role, try to express your feelings in terms of today's youth from today's point of view.
(3) After the acting is over, let each member announce their impressions of the role.
(4) If time permits, try acting by changing roles. They also present their testimonials.