Love and the Knowledge of God

Monday, May 25, 2015
Hosea 6:1-6 KJV 

1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth. 4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the Lord's declaration of impending judgment on Judah, how were the people of God to respond? Why? (v.1-3)
2) What does the Lord declare about His people? (v.4)
3) Why did God send the prophets to them? (v.5-6)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How receptive are you to repent when the Lord corrects you?

LIFE LESSONS
5) Father God corrects His children to draw us closer to Himself as we seek to know and serve Him.