Chapter Summary

Jehovah's response, continued. Further reproof for Israel's impiety.

Discussion Questions for Hosea, Chapter 10

1. Read John 15:1-8. One word is repeated several times in that passage: abide. How does this relate to Israel's situation in Hosea 10:1-4?
2. Due to God's blessings, Israel began to rely on themselves rather than His provision. Have you had a similar experience in your life? What was the result?
3. The opening passage of Proverbs 1 ends with "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline" (CSB). How does that compare with Israel's disdain for the Lord's guidance (verse 3)?
4. In verse 5, the residents of Samaria worry over a false god (depicted as a calf) that they believed would provide for them. Why does the Lord send this calf into exile with the Israelites in verse 6?
5. What is meant by the "days of Gibeah" (CSB) in verse 9? What would be the "days of Gibeah" in your own life?
6. What would it look like to sow righteousness, reap faithful love and seek the Lord in your life? How can you do that this week?
7. How have you plowed wickedness, reaped injustice, and trusted your own way last week? What can you do to make things right?
8. Verses 12&13 are opposite images of one another. Which one more closely aligns with your life? Why?
9. Israel trusted in its military might to protect them, and in the end it was not enough. Have you ever trusted something (a job, a person, etc.) and it fail? Has God ever failed to provide for you?
10. Israel's dependence on its military was one cause of its downfall. Why might they trust in their own power when there are so many stories of God using the small, weak Israelite army to defeat a much larger enemy? (Exodus 14, Joshua 6, Judges 7, 1 Samuel 17, for some examples)

Key Words/Phrase

Chastisement, vv. 10, 15.

Characters

God, Jareb, King of Israel.

Strong Verse(s)

12, 13.