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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July - August, 1934
AUGUST 26, 1934 HO SEA PREACHES GO D ’S LOVE H osea , C hapters 6 , 11,14
Lesson Text: Hosea 11 :l-4, 8, 9; 14:4-9. Golden Text: “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Outline and Exposition I. T he D eclaration of G od ’ s L ove (11 :l-4 ). T h e whole book of Hosea should be read, in order to gain a comprehensive view o f God’s love for His people, which the writing of this prophet provides. In spite of their sinfulness and its neces sary and certain punishment, the love of God for Israel will ultimately triumph and will be satisfied in the repentant and re stored nation. In verse 1, there is a reference to the past, when Israel was brought from Egypt (Ex. 4:22, 23), and a reference to the future, when our Lord Jesus was returned from Egypt (Matt. 2:15, 19-21). God had taken Ephraim by the hand and led him as one leads a little child, even before the child knows o f having received such aid. And this God did, in spite of the fact that at that time Israel was turning toward Baalim and away from the very One who was giving her succor (vs. 2, 3). Israel was bound to the Lord by the cords of love, and the Lord likened His love to that of a human parent for a child (v. 4). God had relieved the people of Israel of their yoke o f bondage, delivered them from their enemies, and then furnished them with food by miraculous means. The allu sion is o f course to their pilgrimage through the wilderness after leaving the land o f Egypt. Were it not for God’s “ lovingkindness and tender mercies,” we might well suppose that the later history o f Israel would be so disappointing to Him that He would for ever cast them oft. But their future was all open before Him, as was their present. Nothing that Israel did surprised God ; and nothing Israel could do would ever cause His love for His people to cease. IE T hè Y earning of G od ’ s L ove (11:8, 9). In the words o f a man, the Lord ex pressed the grief of His heart over back sliding Israel. The nation’s sinfulness and' indifference would incline Him to give the people up, but His heart could not consent to give them up. However shamefully the people might requite God’s goodness to them with their folly, and however basely they might return indifference for His love, God’s love would overcome all defec tions. And that love will at last be fully satisfied when His people repent and are restored to Him. III. T h e P romise in G od ’ s L ove (14:4-8) The Lord declared to the people of Israel that, He would heal all their backslidings (v. 4). “ To heal” means “to make well,” and God promised to “heal” the sins o f His beloved Israel, as He does today for His children (cf. 1 John 1:7). God will forgive His own as the father forgave the returning prpdigal (Lk. 15). There is noth ing that the child o f God can do which lies beyond the healing of the Father’s love. The Lord also promised to love Israel freely (v. 4). “ Freely” means without à cause in them. The causes o f God’s love are not found in the objects of that love, but in His own heart o f love. The word also means that God will love His people without restraint, or stint, or interruption.
This truth reminds us o f the words con cerning the Lord Jesus: “Having loved his own, . . . he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). God’s love goes on and on, undimmed by anything which may be found in the object of His love. Our hearts, so inclined to a legalistic standard, would have us believe that we must pro duce something within ourselves which will appeal to the love o f God, and that until we show evidence o f such a quality, there can be no restoration to divine favor. But, on the contrary, we must learn to accept the love of God as freely as it is bestowed, irrespective of any merit in ourselves. Moreover, the Lord declared that His anger was_ turned away (v. 4). His anger is not against His people, but against their sin. The day is a p p r o a c h i n g when all sin will be done away, and there will never again be an occasion for the Lord’s anger. For all who will turn to God from their sin, with repentance and confession, there await, not anger and wrath, but mercy and forgiveness. Furthermore, the Lord promised that He would be as “the dew” unto Israel (v. 5) —with silent refreshing coolness after a hard day, providing strength for the mor row. Because o f “the dew,” there would be growth as the lily, in purity and beauty. These two qualities, purity and beauty, God means to produce in His people. Added to the beauty and purity, there would be strength to withstand assaults (v. 5). Israel would cast forth roots like Lebanon. Rooted deeply in the love of God, they would never be moved from that position, but would constantly become more and more firmly implanted, as the roots o f a flourishing tree continue to be come more and more solidly fastened in the ground. Then would come expansion, as the branches would spread (v. 6). Israel will yet be as the branches o f a great tree put ting forth its strength and extending over the surrounding territory. In the spread ing branches, there would be beauty “as the olive tree” and fragrance like that of Lebanon. Thus it will be with Israel in a coming day, when the love o f God will be revealed in her restoration and settlement in her own land. There she will take root, never more to be pulled up. And there she will grow into a national beauty and glory such as never has been known in all the earth. Then will the love of the heart of God for His earthly people be satisfied. Other nations would receive benefit (v. 7). They, too, would come into the glory o f Israel and receive a portion o f revival and growth and strength; For this out pouring of God’s benefits, if men only knew it, the whole world waits. God has a pur pose of blessing for this world, but that blessing will come only when Israel is re stored. Finally, there would be a spiritual re- BLACKBOARD LESSON
Objects: A small globe, or a large ball with the map o f the world sketched on it, a cubical block with a red cross painted on one side, two matches, an imitation cigar ette, a small bottle filled with vinegar, a small cardboard door with “Theater” writ ten over it, and a cardboard door with “ Dancing” written over it, and a small black sack. Lesson: This match does not seem to know how to go straight. (Stick the match in a hole in the globe, and roll the globe across the table.) It wabbles just like some people. There is a reason for its not going straight; it is worldly. It is planted in the world. It resembles unsaved people who like the things of the world. It is dif ficult to tell where worldly people will go, except that they will go in the direction the world goes. Notice what happens as this worldly match travels along the pathway o f life. He comes to the door o f the theater, and, thinking that the whole world is going there, he goes in. (Have the door large enough to receive the ball.) Out he comes,' still as unsteady as ever. He next bumps into a cigarette, and, as he is traveling with the world, he thinks he must learn to smoke. On he goes, and rolls into the door of a dance hall. Out he comes, and not far from the dance hall, he finds a bottle of whiskey. This bottle is filled with vinegar, but it represents whiskey. He travels faster now, and soon drops into this black bag marked “ Destruction, Outer Darkness, and Hell.” This is the end of a worldly life. God’s Word says : “Whatso ever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This other match is like those who have accepted Christ. We will put it on this block which represents Christ. (Place the end of the match in a hole in the block.) On the side of the block is a red cross, reminding us of the cross on which Christ died for our sins. Christ is the true foun dation, for the Bible says: “ Other founda tion can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Notice how differently this match acts as he travels down life’s pathway. He does hot wabble, and he passes by those things which caused the worldly match to fall. At the end o f the pathway, he is taken up ward. It is this way in life. The people who accept Christ as Saviour will find that He will keep them from the temptations o f the world and at the end o f life receive them into heaven. God Uses Busy People God called Moses when he was busy with his flocks at Horeb (Ex. 3). He called Gideon while he was busy threshing wheat by the wine press (Judg.6). He called David while he was busy tend ing the sheep (1 Sam. 16), He called Elisha while he was busy plow ing with twelve yoke of oxen (1 Ki. 19). He called James and John while they were busy mending their nets (Mk. 1:19, 20). — W . S. H ottel .
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