Hosea - Chapter-8
Chapter Summary
Jehovah's response, continued. Sins denounced and captivity foretold.
Discussion Questions for Hosea, Chapter 8
- Who is the one that comes like an eagle against the house of the LORD? Where in the Bible can you find a historical account of this?
- Pay special attention to the pronouns "my" and "we" being used in verse 2. What can these simple words tell us about the state of the people of Israel?
- Verse 2 highlights that the people allegedly "know" the Lord, but did they actually know Him? Even if they did, was that enough? What does knowing the Lord look like in God's eyes? How can you know the Lord in your life according to His definition of the word?
- Using verse 4-6, what connections can you make to other books of the Bible? Have these things happened in Israel's history before? How does Israel's repeated disobedience reveal about our own spiritual condition?
- After their freedom from slavery, Israel quickly turns to worshiping a false, probably Egyptian god in Exodus 32. While they didn't physically return to Egypt, they did spiritually. What was the outcome in Exodus 32? What is the outcome here in Hosea? Why would the people go down this path if they knew the punishment?
- Verse 7 shows the people sowing rebellion from God and reaping destruction. If God is good, why would he send destruction upon Israel instead of other punishments?
- Read Romans 9:19-23. How does Hosea 8:8 relate to this passage? How did God use Israel's situation for His Glory?
- What was the purpose of an altar? How had Ephraim changed that purpose into something evil? What examples can you think of in the modern age?
- Why does God not accept the sacrificial gifts mentioned in verse 13? Would God accept your offering today? Why or why not?
- In verse 14, what was wrong with Israel building palaces? King Solomon built a palace for himself, was that wrong? Why or why not?
Key Words/Phrase
Sowing, reaping, v. 7.
Characters
God.
Strong Verse(s)
7 (a), 11.
