Reaping the Whirlwind

Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Hosea 8:7-14 KJV 

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, [but] they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it; but] the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What had the people of God sown and what would they reap? (v.7)
2) What would become of the people of God? Why? (v.8-14)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Have you, or anyone you know, forgotten who created you and the purpose for which He created you?
4) What, if anything, were the ramifications of your irreverence for the Lord?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The ramifications of refusing to reverence the Lord are severe. 
6) As His children, we must examine our hearts and our ways and depart from whatever opposes the Lord's will and His word.
7) Calamity awaits those who forget our God  and choose our way over His.