Hosea: Forgiveness

Hosea 14:4-9 ESV

I will heal their apostasy;
    I will love them freely,
    for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
    he shall blossom like the lily;
    he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6 his shoots shall spread out;
    his beauty shall be like the olive,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 They shall return and dwell beneath my[b] shadow;
    they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
    their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.


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Small Group Study
Hosea - Forgiveness
September 27, 2026

Hosea’s ministry in Israel extended from the years 750-725  B.C. starting during the reign of King Jeroboam II and afterward and he most likely experienced the destruction of Israel by Assyria during the reign of King Hoshea.
Hosea was instructed by God to marry a prostitute symbolic of the Jewish prostitution of obedience to God for the worship of Baal. Their prostitution was both physical and spiritual.
Our study this week will focus on the aspect of forgiveness which is found in Chapter 14. Here we find the requirements for forgiveness and the effects of being forgiven by God.

  • Share a time when you experienced something transformative in nature. (i.e. butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, birth, etc. )

    • What were the physical changes?

    • What made the experience memorable?

    • What does nature reveal about God the creator?

  • Share a time when you experienced something transformative in your walk with God (i.e. new understanding of who God is, changed perspective about God’s relationship with humanity, etc.)

    • What was it that made the change in your understanding/relationship with God?

    • Who was instrumental in your change?

    • What impact did/does that change have on you today?

  • Read Chapter 14 verses 1-3

    • What word did Jesus use to encourage His followers to “return” to God?

    • How is returning to God both a physical and spiritual act?

    • “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips” implies that offering the fruit of our lips is dependent on being forgiven.

      • Discuss the consequence or outcome of praise to God without forgiveness. (Matthew 15:7-9)

    • What is the temptation that can keep us from seeking God’s forgiveness in verse 3?

      • How do we see that in our own lives?

  • Read Chapter 14 verses 4-9

    • What does God declare that He will do in verses 4, 5a? (“I will…”)

    • Referring to Israel in verses 5b, 6 what will Israel become? (“He will…”)

    • Verses 7-9a refer to the people of Israel.

      • List the attributes of the “forgiven” kingdom.

      • In verse 8, Ephraim is a reference to the one of the largest of the twelve tribes located in Israel.

    • Verse 9a defines wisdom and discernment. What is the foundation of wisdom of discernment? (see verse 9b)

Angela DickinsonComment