Come Follow Me 46
Introduction:
Covenants and oaths are often broken in today’s world. The Abrahamic Covenant, which God has made with the House of Israel comes with rich blessings, which are freely given; they are also withheld for disobedience.
The Lord describes our covenant relationship with him to the marriage covenant. It is to be intimate, personal, and kept with complete fidelity. But the Lord does not cast us away when we don’t measure up. His hand is outstretched to help us return to the path and to favor with Him.
Hosea 2:14–15 He invites and entices us to come back to Him.
Hosea 2:19 He will betroth, or bind, us to Him forever. We need to choose Him.
Hosea 14:4 He will heal our backslidings and love us freely.
Knowing these things should help us grow in love and trust for Him. We are not cast off or forsaken. He wants us. All is not lost. He’ll forgive and receive us.
Joel 2:13 “Turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”
Joel 3:16 “The Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
What can you do to strengthen your relationship with the Lord? Feed His Sheep.
How does His love and faithfulness inspire you to love Him more and to be more faithful to Him?
Overviews: “Hosea, or Hoshea” and “Joel” in the Bible Dictionary.
Personal Study: The Lord always invites me to return to Him.
It must have been heart-breaking to Hosea that his wife Gomer had been unfaithful to him.
The Lord must sorrow deeply when we are unfaithful; not only for the wounds we afflict on Him, but for the harm that we do ourselves as well. We covenants are broken, all parties suffer.
As you read, pay attention to how the Lord feels about covenant Israel? How does He feel about you? He loves you, and His one desire is for you to enter back into His presence and enjoy that association with Him eternally. Look for examples of His love and mercy.
Family Study
The Lord uses the metaphor of marriage to describe His relationship with Israel.
He is the Bridegroom.
Hosea 2:19–20 How does God feel about us?
19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.
How do we feel about Him?
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/1?lang=eng
Hosea and his family are a sign unto Israel—In the day of gathering, the people of Israel will become the sons of the living God.
Vs 10-11 Although Israel and Judah had lost favor with God and chose not to be His people, yet they would and will be numbered again with the children of Israel adn receive all the blessings of the covenant. Today is the day of gathering.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/2?lang=eng
Worshipping false gods brings severe judgments upon Israel—In the last days, Israel will be reconciled to God and become His people.
Hosea 2:14–23 The Lord’s love and mercy:
Vs 7-8 If we return until God, He will surely return unto us.
Vs 14-15 The Lord wants Israel to return to Him and to have their covenant relationship restored with Him.
Vs 19-20 When we return to the Lord, we will be betrothed to Him and He will give all good things to us.
Vs 21-23 He will hear us and bless us and claim us as His people; and we shall claim Him as our God.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/3?lang=eng
Israel will seek the Lord, return to the Lord, and receive of His goodness in the latter days.
Vs 5 In the Latter days, Israel will return to their God and their covenants, and care more about pleasing Him than the nations of the world.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/4?lang=eng
Israel loses all truth, mercy, and knowledge of God and goes whoring after false gods.
Vs 6 It is so important to seek, study, and learn the word of the Lord; to obey His law and keep His commandment; and to teach our children to do the same. With Him and His Spirit we truly are lost.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/5?lang=eng
The kingdoms of Judah and Israel will both fall because of their iniquities.
Vs 15 It is a kindness for the Lord to withdraw from us when we seek evil. When we fall because of our own wrong choices and lose the Spirit, our afflictions may again humble us and cause us to remember, to repent, and to seek the Lord.
Personal Study: Devotion to God must be felt inwardly, not just expressed outwardly.
Hosea 6:4–7 The Lord desires mercy more than sacrifice and the knowledge of the Lord more than burnt offerings. What happens if we only perform the outward ordinances, but our hearts are not one with God? Why is it important to keep the commandments even when no one is looking?
What should we do to be righteous before the Lord? Follow the Spirit; know His law and keep it.
Isaiah 48:18 There is peace in being obedient.
1 Nephi 2:9–10 Lehi desired for Laman and Lemuel to be consistent in righteousness. The Lord desires that for us too.
Cross reference Hosea 6:6 with Matthew 9:10–13. The Lord wants us to learn what “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice” means. See also 12:1–8. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Joel 2:12–13 The Lord tells us to rend our hearts and not our clothes. If we turn to Him with broken hearts, He can and will heal us.
2 Chronicles 34:14–21, 27 Tearing or rending of clothes in the Jewish culture showed great mourning and remorse.
See also Isaiah 1:11–17; Matthew 23:23; 1 John 3:17–18. Love in very did. Help those in need.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/6?lang=eng
Hosea calls Israel to return and serve the Lord—The mercy and knowledge of God are more important than ritualistic sacrifices.
Family Study: It is time to seek the Lord.
Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Have faith. Keep living. Keep planning. Keep preparing. Keep serving. Keep following the Spirit and doing the works the Father and Jesus would have you do. Wait upon the Lord. It is time to seek Him, until He comes!
Draw a clock and plan ways that you can seek the Lord throughout the day.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/10?lang=eng
Israel has plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity—Hosea calls upon Israel to seek the Lord.
Vs 8 Make sure that you will never feel to say this! Seek the Lord now.
Vs 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/11?lang=eng
Israel, as a child, was called out of Egypt in similitude of our Lord, as a child, coming out of Egypt—But Ephraim turns away from the Lord.
Vs 9 The Lord has always extended mercy to us. When we are ready to receive Him one day, He will enter into His City, the New Jerusalem. Prepare.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/12?lang=eng
The Lord uses prophets, visions, and similitudes to guide His people, but they become rich and will not wait on the Lord—Ephraim provokes Him most bitterly.
Vs 6 “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/13?lang=eng
Ephraim’s sins provoke the Lord—There is no Savior beside the Lord—He ransoms from the grave and redeems from death.
Vs 4 “Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”
Vs 9-11 Don't look for anyone else to be young king or your lord. Jesus alone is our Savior.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/hosea/14?lang=eng
In the last days, Ephraim will repent and return unto the Lord.
Vs 1-2 Acknowledge to the Lord your shortcomings; ask for forgiveness. Return to Him.
Vs 4 This is a wonderful thought. The Lord can help us to not make the same mistakes over and over. He loves us freely. Do we love Him freely enough to ask for and trust in His help and healing?
The Lord’s love and mercy:
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/joel/1?lang=eng
Call a solemn assembly and gather to the house of the Lord, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
Vs 14-15 Repent, prepare, and wait on the Lord. He is coming.
Personal Study: “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.”
Joel 2:1–2, 11 The day of the Lord is described as “a day of darkness and of gloominess,” “great and very terrible”.
Acts 2:1–21 vs 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ponder these words from President Russell M. Nelson: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”
Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives
Why is revelation essential to our spiritual survival? How can you increase your capacity to receive personal revelation?
Family Study
Joel 2:12–13 Turn to the Savior and away from sin.
Joel 2:28–29 Demonstrate the difference between a trickle and pouring something out.
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/joel/2?lang=eng
War and desolation will precede the Second Coming—The sun and the moon will be darkened—The Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh—There will be dreams and visions.
Vs 8 How can and when wil we receive this protection from the Lord?
Joel 2:12–17: The Lord’s Counsel
Vs 12-13 We are all invited to Come to the Lord and be perfected in and through Him.
Joel 2:18–32: The blessings He’s promised. Why are they valuable?
Vs 23, 26 The Lord will provide and take care of all our needs if we worship Him and trust in Him.
Joel 2:28 How will the Lord “pour out [His] spirit upon all flesh”?
Joel 2:28–29 How are these prophecies being fulfilled? We will be blessed with the gift of prophesy in the days before the Lord comes again.
Vs 30-31 This will be frightening, especially to those who do not know and trust in God.
Vs 32 All those who acknowledge the Lord and call on Him will be delivered. Call on Him, for He is mighty to save, and His mercy endureth forever!
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/joel/3?lang=eng
All nations will be at war—Multitudes will stand in the valley of decision as the Second Coming draws near—The Lord will dwell in Zion.
What is the Valley of Decision?
Vs 9-10 There will be a day of warfare and unrest; later the swords and tools of war will be made into plowing tools.
Vs 13 What can you do to help harvest souls in the vineyard of the Lord?
Vs 14 Who's on the Lord's side, Who? Where do you stand in the Valley of Decision?
Vs 16-27 Find courage and strength in following the Lord and helping to build up Zion now, and then you will dwell safely in Zion with the Lord.
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