Willmar tribune., 1899-06-28
GRACIOUS lTAT1oNs.
International sunday School Lesso.
for July 2, 1SO0-Text, Hosea
14s1-B-MemoryV Verses 4-7,

| r 49, . ~ ~|
international Sunday School Lesson
for July 2, 1SO0-Text, Hosea
14s1-0-Memory Verses ~.
! D. 5>3@$2 M----- "a u o.
Especially Adapted from Peloubet's Notes. /
! GOLDEN TEXT.-Come, and let us re-
turn unto the Lord.-Ho. 6:1.,
! READ the whole book Of Hosea
! PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORIC Kings.
chaps Is: IL, u; Chron.. Chaps. &c, q. %.
Belonging to Judah. but prophesying in
Israel: Isaiah. Prophesying in Judah.
SECULAR H1sTORY.-During Hosea q
ministry authentic history began in Greece
with the Olympiads. b. c. 776 Rome was
founded B. c. 75s. Assyria was the domi-
nant, oyershadowing power during Hosea's
life, and was the instrument Of the execu-
tton Of the Divine warnings.
| EXPLANATORY.
The Mission of the Prophet Hosea.-
Hosea had fallen upon evil times, and
his mission was to 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 lsrael's 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
ne" motive, the mightiest that can
be brought to bear upon the heart of
man-the love of God, the deepest, ten
derest' strongest love possible. ITO
Amos proposition God is Justice Ho-
sea adds, God is Love-"
| l. Hosea's Personal Experience Makes
Him a Living, Visible Sermon ON the
Power OF Love to Conquer Sin.-Chaps,
| 1-3.
IL. Hosea's Appeals and Warnings
Chaps. 3-14. He shows how the people
are decaying morally, and as a 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. II, and one of future possi-
bilities, chap. IA.
". The Vision of Hope.-14:1-o.
First. The Prophets Appeal Tvs. 1, 81.
V: l. "Return:" like the prodigal son,
after his bitter experiences, unto the
Lord thy God:" whose child YOU are.
TO whom you owe allegiance, gratitude.
love, obedience. 'For thou hast fallen
by thine iniquity:" Again like the
prodigal son. They had found what
an evil and bitter thing" it is to forsake
Jehovah their God (Jer. 2:1o). V. 2.
Iake with you words:" Express your
feelings OF repentance; make public
confession OF sin, so that your penitence
may be known as widely as the sin:
put your vows and promises on record:
as it were, sign a pledge. Such things
are the natural accompaniments of true
repentance. "And turn" r. ", re-
turn, to the Lord. This is the new birth
OF John 3:3, 5. 1t is, and always has
been, the essential condition of saliva
ton.
Second. The Penitent's Prayer and
Confession Tvs. 2, 81. "Take away all
in'quity." BY free forgiveness, and by
taking away the sinful nature, 80
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
lisa SSH vs. 'Assur, Assvria. shalt
mot save us" They Wilt no longer turn
to Assvria for help, as they had dome
before 6: 1S. .7:11; Soy @For in thee
tie fatherHess=" ~Lo-Rmharnah~ of
! chaps AMID ?, "findetb mercy" NCom~
pare John 14:1S)- 1 WIFI NOT leave som
oomdortDess, Greek, -orphans.'"
Third Ihe Lord Speaks i'm Reply Tvs.
4D- = 5 II Will be as the dew: %
ka1her, rs the might mist. i. e., the
masses od sapor brought by the damp
westerly winds of summer. The haleful
effects OF the siroeeo are often fel. in
Palestine during the rainless heat of
summer, but 10y the beautiful proyl-
sion of night-mist all hardy forms of
vegetable life are preserved. - Cam
bridge Bible "Grov-" blossom. las
the lily: in glorious beauty and pro-
fusion v g. What 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 Fulfilment of this Promise.
V. I. They that dwell under his,
lsreals, shadows" 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. Repentant Israel Speaks. Y.
8. What have l to do any more with
idols? Israel renounces idols forever.
Sixth. The Lord Responds. II have
heard (answered) him, and observed
him." and will regard him. The Lord
accepts 1sraers repentance, and will
take him under His care.
Seventh. Repentant Israel rejoices in
the result. II am like a green fir tree: ~
'Evidently thinking of the splendid for
ests of Lebanon. ."-Cheyne.
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
and air. So in John Is, the fruit on the
branch comes from the vine.