The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-06-30
GRACIOUS INVITATIONS.
International sunday school Lessos
sor July =. i~'so-I~As, Hosea
ra,i-p-Ncmory Nerses t-y.


GOLDEN TENT.-come. and let US re-
,prn unto the Lord.-iIo. 81.
pEAp the whole book OF Hosea
PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORIC Kings.
chaps n. 10. II: Chfon.. chaps rs. z. Is.
CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS Amos.
relonglng to judah. but prophesying In
israel. Isaiah. Prophcsying In Judah.
SECULAR HISTORY. During Hosea's
ministry authentic history began In Greece
wiih the Olymp, ds. II. G. 776. Rome was
founded II. c. 15-. Assyria was the domi-
uant. overshadowing power during Hosea's
NE. and was the instrument OF the eAecu-
non u the Divine warnings.
EXPLANATORY.
The Mission of the Prophet Hosea
Hosea had fallen upon evil times, and
his mission was 10 make them better.
Like Elisha at the bitter fountain of
Jericho, he was TO cast the salt Of right
eousness into the polluted social and
religious fountains of lsraels life, and
restore the waters to health. The
Prophet Amos preceded Hosea. His
message was one Of denunciation of
sin, of Woe unto YOU" of punishment.
Of warning. 1t was of Divine justice.
The Prophet Hosea follows him with
new motive, the mighticst that can
bc brought TO bear upon the heart of
inan--thc love Of God the deepest. ten
dcrcst. strongest love possible. "Io
Amos proposition God is Justice, Iio-
sea adds. God is Love
l. llosea's Personal Experience Makes
Him Living. Visible Sermon on the
Power of Love to Conquer Sin.-Chaps
l-3.
II. IIoscas Appeals and Warnings
Chaps. 3-ll. lie shows how the people
are dccaying morally, and us natural
result politically.
Ill a Vision Of the Past.-Chap. II.
The warnings and woes against sin are
interrupted by two visions; one Of the
past. chap. ] J., and one OF future posi-
biities chap. IA.
IN. The Vision OF Hope.-I4:I-o.
First. The Prophets Appeal KS. /. -.
Y. /. RETURN" like the prodigal son,
after his bitter experiences. unto the
Lord thy God:" whose child you are,
10 whom you owe allegiance. gratitude,
love, obedience. For thou hast fallen
10y thine iniquity:" Again like the
prodigal son. They had found what
m evil and bitter thing il is to forsakc
Jehovah their God der. 2:l9). V. ..
Take with YOU words:" Express your
feelings Of repentance; make public
confession OF sin, So that your pcniteAee
may be known as widely as The sin;
put your vows ana promises on record;
IS II were. ign a pledge. such things
are the natural Accomplishments Of true
repentance. And turns" r. s.. re-
turn, to the Lord. This Is the ncw birth
of John 90. ;. 1t is. ana always has
been, the essential condition Of saliva
tion.
Second. The pcnicur's Prayer and
Confession tvs. ?. -. Take away all
iniquity.n ~ free forgiveness. and by
taking away the sinful nature. so
will we render the calves of our lips"
The calves, or bullocks. were the larger
sacrifices Of their ritual. Their vows.
their praises. their expressions OF love,
their confessions and promises were
their true offerings to God. Compare
Isa 5s:s-l4. VA "Assur Assyria. shall
not save u.s." They Will no longer turn
TO Assyria for help. as they had done
before f5:l3; 7;li; s:ol. For in thee
the fatherless:" "Lo-Ruhamah" Of
chaps. ] and >. "iindeth mercy Com
pare John li:1s). | will not leave you
''comfortlcss." Greek. orphans"
Third. The Lord Speaks in Reply Tvs
4-G). Y. 5. II will be as the dew"
Rather, as III, ~ hit mist, j. g.. the
masses OF vapor brought by the damp
westerly winds Of summer. The balcfu
effects of the srocco are oft.n felt in
Palestine during the rainlcss heat Of
summer, but by the beautiful provi-
sion of night-mist all hardy forms OF
vegetable life are preserved. Cam
bridge Bible. Grow" blossom. las
the lily:" in glorious beauty and pro-
fusion. Y. G. What a beautiful picture
this is of the kingdom Of God on earth;
the ideal which every Christian church
should seek to realize more fully.
Fourth. The Prophet Pictures Israel
Under the Fulflmcnt Of this Promise
Y. !. "They that dwell under his
lsreals. shadow" The people of Is
rael. 'Shall RETURN" Revive as the
bare branches revive in the springtime
Shall grow. blossom. 'as the vine:"
beautiful and fruitful
Fifth. Repcntant Israel Speaks. v.
:. What have TO do any more with
idols?' Israel renounccs idols forever.
Sixth. The Lord Responds. g! have
heard (answcredj MIN. and observed
him." and will regard him. The Lord
accepts lsraers repentance, and will
take him under Ills care.
seventh. Repcntant Israel re ioices in
the result. II am like a green fir tree"
Evidently thinking of the splendid for.
ests of ebanon."-Cheync.
Eighth. The Lord replies in words OF
both hope and warning. From Me is
thy fruit found" All these blessings
come from the Lord. as the life and
fruit of tree comes from the earth
md air. So in John IS. the fruit on the
branch compu from, ~. VIM