Think on these questions as you dwell in Hosea 5:1-15:

1. In this passage, God's discipline is likened to pouring out wrath "like water." How does this vivid imagery emphasize the severity and inevitability of God's punishment? How might understanding this representation influence our perception of God's justice and mercy in contemporary times?

2. The narrative portrays God's intention behind punishment as a call for repentance and a return to Him. How does the concept of discipline as a means to lead individuals back to God challenge our understanding of punishment in modern society? What can we learn from this approach to discipline in our personal lives and communities?

3. The passage emphasizes the necessity for acknowledgment of guilt and earnest seeking of God's face in times of distress. How can the recognition of personal wrongdoing lead to a deeper sense of repentance and reconciliation with God? In what ways can this biblical principle guide believers in addressing their faults and seeking restoration in their relationship with God?

Transcript:

 As I've mentioned several times as we've been reading through Hosea, there is so much here that is hard for us to read and so much that is hard for us to hear because it involves the punishment of God.  But we have to remember that God is a God who he disciplines his children. The people of Israel had turned away.

Remember the language that has been used here, the example that has been used. They are an unfaithful bride. God has bought them. God has rescued them. God has brought them to himself. But they have been unfaithful to him and now he is punishing them, and I think it's important that we remember as much as none of us likes to be disciplined and none of us likes to do the disciplining either.

It is an important thing It brings the people of God back to him and when we are disciplined The goal is not that we would be punished with punishment as the goal The goal is to bring us back to cause us to repent.  And so, this is a good thing. We see that God punishes disobedience. God punishes sin. Do we want to serve a God who does not punish sin, who just lets things slide?

No, we don't. That's one thing that we appreciate about the story of the gospel.  God pours out his wrath on Christ. He does not just Let's let sin slide.  Sin is still punished but forgiveness comes because of the work of Jesus for us That is great news because God is able to hold up his justice While still being gracious and merciful to us.

So, we see here what God is going to do as we look at verses 9 and 10 of chapter 5. Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of punishment among the tribes of Israel. I have made known what is sure. The princes of Judah have become like those who move the landmark. Upon them I will pour out my wrath like water.

Isn't that unbelievable language? I will pour out my wrath like water. Like water.  Let's remember, uh, the idea of water. It comes from the sky. It, uh, it is there in the sea, in the ocean, in the rivers, and it is there, and it just seems to constantly be coming, right? Water can come from the sky and, and suddenly you have a flash flood, and it is, it is just poured out and, and it can cause all kinds of damage and Like with the with the ocean, what do we see?

We see that God that the water is there and there's nothing we can do about it. Just as god's punishment Is there and it is something that they have to live with. God pours out his wrath like water.  And we see at the end of this passage that, that God doesn't mince any words here. He says, I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

And I, even I will tear and go away. I will carry off and no one shall rescue. God is more powerful. He will do what he wants to do. He will carry them off. He will take them into exile This punishment will come and God says I will return again to my place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face And in their distress, earnestly seek me.

God is saying, I am doing this to cause them to repent. And if that means that I have to carry them away, I will not bring them back until they turn from their sin and repent.  God is calling his people to repentance. The goal here in what God is doing is not punishment for punishment's sake.  It is punishment in hopes.

That the people will return to him that they will see that he is their only hope that he that he is the one That they must follow  and I think that all of us have been in a position where we've been confronted with something that we've done Maybe it was with our parents or with a spouse or with our friend  and there's something about  Knowing that we've done that, that causes us to truly feel the depth of what we've done and how we've, we've wronged someone, right?

It's really easy to the things that we do to be satisfied with them when it's just us that, really is forced to deal with him. But once we know that it's hurt someone else once we know that we've been caught It changes our perspective does it not and that's the goal of this discipline here God is going to carry him away so that they will understand that they have wronged him. They have been an unfaithful bride, and they need to return to him.

They have to seek his face and in their distressed earnestly seek him go after him desire to keep his commands and so may we be a people of God who does what the last verse here has to say for us. May we acknowledge our guilt before God. May we seek the face of God. May we earnestly seek Him and may God have mercy upon us.

May His Holy Spirit convict us of our sin and may we turn towards Him.