1. Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2013 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2013 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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3. Zdravko Stefanovic Principal Contributor “Seek the Lord and Live!” Major Lessons From Minor Prophets

4. Seek the Lord and Live Contents 1 Spiritual Adultery Hosea 2 Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma Hosea 3 A Holy and Just GodJoel 4 Lord of All Nations Amos 5 Seek the Lord and Live! Amos 6 Eager to ForgiveJonah 7 God’s Special People Micah 8 Trusting God’s Goodness Habakkuk 9 The Day of the Lord Zephaniah 10 First Things First! Haggai 11 Vision of Hope Zechariah 12 Heaven’s Best Gift Zechariah 13 Lest We Forget! Malachi

5. Seek the Lord and Live Our Goal {169} IT’S PRESENT TRUTH — God’s message to us today just as it was a message to those who lived in the time of these twelve writers who, though long gone, still speak. The question is, will we listen?

6. Seek the Lord and Live Lesson 2, April 13 Seek the Lord and Live Lesson 2, April 13 Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea)

7. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) Key Text Hosea 12:6 NIV “B UT YOU MUST return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”

8. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) Initial Words {183} HOSEA USED METAPHORS for the same reasons that Jesus taught in parables: First, to explain truths about God through the familiar things of life; second, to impress on people’s minds important spiritual principles that could be applied in everyday existence.

9. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) Quick Look 1. The Deceived Dove Metaphor (Hosea 7:11, 12) 2. The Trained Heifer Metaphor (Hosea 10:11-13) 3. The Toddling Child Metaphor (Hosea 11:1, 3)

10. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) 1. The Dove Metaphor Hosea 7:11, 12 NKJV “ ‘EPHRAIM ALSO IS like a silly dove, without sense—they call to Egypt, they go to Syria. Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them according to what their congregation has heard.’ ”

11. 1. The Dove Metaphor Easily Deceived and Senseless {184} EPHRAIM WAS THE younger son of Joseph. Because Ephraim was the name of the principal tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the name is applied to the entire kingdom, just as the name Judah was applied to the kingdom in the south.

12. 1. The Dove Metaphor Easily Deceived and Senseless {184} Israel is compared to a senseless bird allowing itself to be an easy prey for the fowler’s net. Her reliance on other nations for help was an act of rebellion against God.

13. 1. The Dove Metaphor Easily Deceived and Senseless {184} An alliance with the mighty Assyrian Empire or ambitious Egypt would require Israel to recognize the supremacy of the gods worshiped by those two superpowers. Going to them would mean, by necessity, turning away from the Lord.

14. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) 2. The Trained Heifer Metaphor Hosea 10:11, 13 NKJV “ ‘EPHRAIM IS A trained heifer that loves to thresh grain; but I harnessed her fair neck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow. … Sow yourselves righteousness; … for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.’ ”

15. 2. The Trained Heifer Metaphor Yoked {185} EPHRAIM IS COMPARED to a trained heifer who loves to thresh grain because she can eat as she threshes. Thus, instead of being productive, Israel’s existence has become self- centered. When God yokes Israel to work in the open fields as the nation should, righteousness and kindness grow instead.

16. 2. The Trained Heifer Metaphor Yoked {185} The prophet presents what the Lord desires Israel to be through obedience to His word. Righteousness and steadfast love are the gifts promised by God. If people sow this righteousness, they will reap kindness in return.

17. 2. The Trained Heifer Metaphor Yoked {185} The admonition to sow righteousness concerns people-to- people relationships; the search for God concerns the relationship between God and His people. Thus, the Lord and His people will work together in a mutual relationship to bring blessings back to the land.

18. Hosea 11:1, 3 NKJV “ ‘W HEN I SRAEL WAS a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. … I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. Love and Judgment: God’s Dilemma (Hosea) 3. Toddling Child Metaphor

19. Taught to Walk {186} T HE L ORD’S WAY is like the tender care of a new parent. Just as a parent tenderly and patiently teaches a child to walk, taking it up by its hands to prevent its fall, so the Lord has cared for Israel right from the beginning.

20. 3. Toddling Child Metaphor Taught to Walk {186} God, who loves and forgives, is the heart of Hosea’s message. Even when He applies discipline, He is deeply compassionate. His anger can be terrifying, but His mercy is beyond comprehension.

21. 3. Toddling Child Metaphor Taught to Walk {186} Although all the nations of the earth, including Egypt, were God’s sons and daughters, the Hebrew nation was selected to be God’s firstborn son with special privileges. But along with those privileges came responsibilities.

22. 3. Toddling Child Metaphor Taught to Walk {186} “All who in this world render true service to God or man receive a preparatory training in the school of sorrow. The weightier the trust and the higher the service, the closer is the test and the more severe the discipline.”—Education 151.

23. Last Word Compassion Stronger Than Anger {187} “ ‘How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again.’ ” Hosea 11:8, 9, NASB

24. Last Word Compassion Stronger Than Anger {187} God’s ways transcend those of sinful humanity. He will not let bitterness govern His decisions. God’s love seeks to bring healing, health, and restoration to His people. The purpose of divine discipline is to correct, amend, and reconcile, not to destroy and avenge.