Title: Lines of Love (Hos 11:1-4)
Contents
String of Love (Hos 11:1-4)
The Prophet Hosea of the Book of Hosea is a prophet of the 7th century B.C. At that time, Israel was in the age of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The capital of Israel in the north was Samaria and the capital of Judah in the south was Jerusalem. The prophet Hosea was a prophet who preached what God was saying to Israel in the north. At that time, people were materially prosperous. Being materially rich, they were spiritually poor. “The more they multiply, the more they sin against me, and I will turn their glory into a disgrace” (Hosea 4:7). If you only have to eat to live, you will fall. That is why God warns us about fornication, drunkenness, and debauchery. “Come back to me, come back to me to live!” But the Israelites did not heed God's warning. Eventually, the country falls and the people are taken captive.
The central word of the entire book of Hosea is ‘the love of God’. It is called ‘Hessed’, and ‘Hessed’, which comes from the Hebrew word ‘hen’, means the true love of God. This is called 'charis' in the New Testament. The central verse of the book of Hosea is, “Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap mercy; now is the time to seek the Lord, and till your fallen land. ) is.
The words of Hosea chapter 11 in the text refer to those who lived faithfully among the people of Israel as “a remnant,” comforting them and promising them peace. He says that God has called us up to this point, guided us, taught us how to walk, and always held us with the rope of love. “I set the LORD always before me; I will not be moved because he is at my right hand” (Psalm 16:8).
1. Let's know God's love (verse 1)
“When Israel was a child, I loved and called my son out of Egypt” (verse 1), “I taught Ephraim to walk and held him in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them” (verse 3). . In these words, we can know the love of God.
① I have loved you since I was little. That is, God has chosen him. ② He was called out of Egypt. He called us out of the world and saved us. ③ He taught me how to walk. that you were educated. ④ He gave me a hug. that you protected. ⑤ He healed us. you treated me This is the expression of the love of parents raising their children in this way. “Now the LORD, who created you, speaks, O Jacob; he who formed you, Israel, speaks now” (Isaiah 43:1). He led the people from Egypt out of Egypt and led them for 40 years in the wilderness. He protected them with a pillar of cloud and fire, and when there was nothing to eat, he fed them with living water with manna and quail. When he made a mistake, he disciplined him, corrected him, and healed him when he was sick. “I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
God....