Today’s passage: Hosea 6
Helpful thoughts:
- Verses 1-3 assures Israel of the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness.
- Verse 4 compares Israel’s love to a brief morning fog.
- Israel thought they could sacrifice some animals to appease God while they remained in their sin. God wants sincerity of heart, mercy and love.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 – For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
- Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Questions to consider:
- How were Israel’s and God’s faithfulness compared and contrasted in this chapter? What is God’s faithfulness based on? Does His character change or ebb and flow based on the conditions of people? Who are the ones who are changing?
- In what ways would you identify with Israel’s morning fog metaphor? Why is it right for us to be thankful for God’s steadfast mercy?
- Can you be religious without being godly? What makes a person godly? What are the characteristics of a person who is close to God/who fears God/who is growing in Christ-likeness? How might this description be different than the description of a person who would call themselves religious?