The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-12-09
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
JEHOVAH YEARNs OVER ISRAEL.


GOLDEN TEXT drew them with
cords of man. with bands OF love-
Hosea liza
"A contemporary Of Isaiah and Amos
Hosea continued to prophesy after
the nrst captivity Of the northern
Kingdom. His style is abrupt and fig
urative. Israel is Jehovah's adulter-
GUS wife, repudiated, but finally to be
purified and restored. This lesson ia
part of the second section Of tho
book 4:1-13:S), which Is descrip-
tion Of the sinful people.
]. "The Perverse Child" w. ~,
The remnant" (ch. GLIB had cried
out for relief (See lsa. 1:9; Rom.
2:6). Jehovah's reply (begins 6:4) is
severe arraignment of Israels back
sliding as contrasted with his grace.
10 understand this lesson read the
entire book repeatedly. In verse l Of
the lesson Jehovah recalls to the ma
tion the days OF its childhood. Be-
cause Of his great love Deut. 7:7
he called them out of Egypt, the land
Of bondage, into Canaan, the land of
blessing and liberty. Yet Israel sensed
not it's duty nor it's obligation of graft
tude. We are living under a greater
obligation because Of the greater re-
demption God has provided for us in
the person Of his Son. God here calls
Israel my son" (Ex. 422); we have
the right to call ourselves sons (John
1:12; I. John 3:1-2). Matthew's COS.
pei applies these words to him who
alone was fully and in the true sense
Gods son. Jesus is the summary OF
the whole nation in that he alone fully
realized Gods purpose in Israel (Matt.
2:15).
AS contrasted with what q son is
OF should be verse 2 gives picture
Of Israel's wandering. The whole his
tory Of the nation is one of going after
false gods. q. Sam: 8:7-9 and many
other references.) In those childhood
days ". 81 Jehovah taught them how
to walk, and healed thoir hurts, "but
they knew not"-God, as a tender Fa-
ther, had watched over, taught, guild
ed and healed eek. 1914; Isa 1873;
| $3.50. Even SO, in this present age
God is God Of mercy and long suf-
fering (Rom. 2:4), yet the mass Of
men know not" what God is doing
for them. In verse the child has
grown older and as mothers often
tether child lest it run away, so Je-
hovah endeavors to draw Israel to
him with cords Of love-" His cord
of love now is the mighty power of
Calvary (John 12:32). Jehovah not
only drew but even sought to entice,
| for he laid meat unto them"-J esus
will deliver us, for he bore our yoke
nd to
Bread Of Life (John 6:35, 58). Lovo
does not mean that the backslider
shall be free from punishment. "Be,
cause they refused to return
the sword shall abide" w. Sc and Heb.
1870. Even SO God did not permit
them to go back to Egyptian bond.
age (v g. Israel was bent to back
sliding" In spite Of the constant call
to worship and serve him none "would
exalt him."
u. The Pleading Parent, w. 8-12.
None can fathom the depths Of the
cry, How shall I give thee up, How
shall l deliver thee" w. 81. Israel
would persist and still Jehovah pleads
that Derchance they would heed his
cry Ger. OF; Lam. 3:33). Admah
thrown with Sodom and Gomorrah
Deut 29:33), shall Israel likewise
perish? No! (v. 81 for II am God not
man." God does not, like man,
change-his covenants are not "scrapa
Of paper" his love is everlasting Gnu.
23:19). 1t Is not God but man who is
responsible for his destruction Tho
Holy One in the midst Of thee" Is
there to save, not as an avenger. God
has not come into our midst in wrath
Gods passionate desire is to save
not to destroy. His purposes are
those Of love and redemption and as
with Israel OF old, so in this age he
will carry out these purposes in spite
OF our backsliding (Rom. 11:28-20.
| Verse" 10 and II are prophetic Of the
ultimate repentance and restoration of
acknowledgement shall pass upon their
foes (Joei 3:16) and those Of the dis.
persion (see parallel lisa. 1111-16)
shall gather, as doves to their win.
dows," and be once more "in their
houses" !. e., set up as q nation in
their God-given land. Ephraim w. 12)
sought to rule without or by casting
off Jehovah U. Cor. 4:8).
In Juiah was the legal priesthood
and the legitimate king but the apos.
tasy OF Israel was more culpable be
cause Of the example Of judah which
he had set at rought.
III. Promised Deiiverance. In
most striking way Hosea flashes O
note OF hope and love through the
cloud Of gloom which hung over the
nation as it drew closer to its doom
because the people refused TO repent
Amos delivered his warning and re-
turned to Judah
| Hosea was a part OF the nation