7. Main Themes and Theological Message
Hosea 6:1-6 reveals so much about God. First and foremost, God is compassion and his steadfast love towards his people causes God indecisive to execute punishment (Hosea 6:4). God’s punishment can be fatal as God is powerful and have no problems to launch any magnitude of punishment (Hosea 6:1,5). God is capable to heal people from severe and fatal injured, including those inflicted by him. God will heal those who repent and return to him (Hosea 6:1). Not only God can revive people, but also complete it in short time (Hosea 6:2). God has the free choice to destroy as well as to deliver. God, like dawn (“light”) and rain, brings life to earth (Hosea 6:3). God can provide people what they need as …show more content…
God wants people to love him as the kind of “love” God has shown to people. God has a purpose to cultivate this committed relationship and God’s approach is manifested in God’s relationship with Israel. It is illustrated as follows: (a) Yahweh chose Israel and become its patron; (b) Israel, as the client, broke its obligations towards its patron (theologically, Israel sinned against Yahweh); (c) Yahweh punished Israel, but Yahweh still “loves” Israel. Yahweh will not exterminate Israel, and (d) Yahweh did not abrogate its patronship. Thus, at an undefined but certain future time, Yahweh will resume this relationship to its proper form. God has worked on this through generations of Israel. God has not changed his mind to this committed relationship. Israel’s fickleness is repetative and it happens at all levels – individuals, the nation as a whole, generation after generation. God patiently remind pepole this relationship, his steadfast love and the proper ways to know …show more content…
God desires steadfast love and not sacrifice, relationship not liturgy. Churches should play a role to answer the question “What shall I do with you, O people?” Churches are not “prophets” but churches should able to speak for God to remind people. Churches could keep reminding people to repent and to return to God. Churches should focus on the relationship – people’s relationship with God. Churches are not social clubs to maintain relationship amongst people. The relationships amongst people have to be built upon people’s relationship with God. God comes first. Churches care, not because people care, but because God cares first. Churches have to put God’s Words first and lead the congregation to properly lean on God’s Words in God’s way. Churches need to pursue vigorously God’s Words on behalf of people. It is the substance, not the form. It is the relationship, not the rituals. Worships are to praise God and prayers are to connect with God. There are churches hanging on organ and hymn books. There are extremely exclusive churches. There are churches repeating its routines for years and turning into formality. There are churches gradually transforming its Christianity into churches with four walls. If churches cannot rectify the distorted values in Hosea 6:6 and lead her congregation, which other corporate entities can serve this role? Churches fail because they fail this required role
Hosea 6:1-6 reveals so much about God. First and foremost, God is compassion and his steadfast love towards his people causes God indecisive to execute punishment (Hosea 6:4). God’s punishment can be fatal as God is powerful and have no problems to launch any magnitude of punishment (Hosea 6:1,5). God is capable to heal people from severe and fatal injured, including those inflicted by him. God will heal those who repent and return to him (Hosea 6:1). Not only God can revive people, but also complete it in short time (Hosea 6:2). God has the free choice to destroy as well as to deliver. God, like dawn (“light”) and rain, brings life to earth (Hosea 6:3). God can provide people what they need as …show more content…
God wants people to love him as the kind of “love” God has shown to people. God has a purpose to cultivate this committed relationship and God’s approach is manifested in God’s relationship with Israel. It is illustrated as follows: (a) Yahweh chose Israel and become its patron; (b) Israel, as the client, broke its obligations towards its patron (theologically, Israel sinned against Yahweh); (c) Yahweh punished Israel, but Yahweh still “loves” Israel. Yahweh will not exterminate Israel, and (d) Yahweh did not abrogate its patronship. Thus, at an undefined but certain future time, Yahweh will resume this relationship to its proper form. God has worked on this through generations of Israel. God has not changed his mind to this committed relationship. Israel’s fickleness is repetative and it happens at all levels – individuals, the nation as a whole, generation after generation. God patiently remind pepole this relationship, his steadfast love and the proper ways to know …show more content…
God desires steadfast love and not sacrifice, relationship not liturgy. Churches should play a role to answer the question “What shall I do with you, O people?” Churches are not “prophets” but churches should able to speak for God to remind people. Churches could keep reminding people to repent and to return to God. Churches should focus on the relationship – people’s relationship with God. Churches are not social clubs to maintain relationship amongst people. The relationships amongst people have to be built upon people’s relationship with God. God comes first. Churches care, not because people care, but because God cares first. Churches have to put God’s Words first and lead the congregation to properly lean on God’s Words in God’s way. Churches need to pursue vigorously God’s Words on behalf of people. It is the substance, not the form. It is the relationship, not the rituals. Worships are to praise God and prayers are to connect with God. There are churches hanging on organ and hymn books. There are extremely exclusive churches. There are churches repeating its routines for years and turning into formality. There are churches gradually transforming its Christianity into churches with four walls. If churches cannot rectify the distorted values in Hosea 6:6 and lead her congregation, which other corporate entities can serve this role? Churches fail because they fail this required role