THE LOVING HEART OF GOD

THE LOVING HEART OF GOD

February 1, 2015

Luke 15:17–24

[17] “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ [20] And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (ESV)

Hosea 5:8–15

[8] Blow the horn in Gibeah,
the trumpet in Ramah.
Sound the alarm at Beth-aven;
we follow you, O Benjamin!
[9] Ephraim shall become a desolation
in the day of punishment;
among the tribes of Israel
I make known what is sure.
[10] The princes of Judah have become
like those who move the landmark;
upon them I will pour out
my wrath like water.
[11] Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
because he was determined to go after filth.
[12] But I am like a moth to Ephraim,
and like dry rot to the house of Judah.
[13] When Ephraim saw his sickness,
and Judah his wound,
then Ephraim went to Assyria,
and sent to the great king.
But he is not able to cure you
or heal your wound.
[14] For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear and go away;
I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.
[15] I will return again to my place,
until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,
and in their distress earnestly seek me. (ESV)

Hosea 6:1–3

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
[1] “Come, let us return to the LORD;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
[2] After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
[3] Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.” (ESV)