Hosea 10: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Hosea 10 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces fruit. However, as the land prospered, the people multiplied their altars and adorned their sacred stones (vv. 1-2).

Key verse

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12 (WEB)

Outline

Hosea 10:1–2 Israel's Prosperity and Guilt
Hosea 10:3–4 Rejection of Kingship
Hosea 10:5–7 Judgment on Idolatry
Hosea 10:8–10 Destruction of Idolatry
Hosea 10:11–14 Divine Discipline
Hosea 10:15 Consequences of Wickedness

Discussion questions

In v1, what does Israel being a 'luxuriant vine' suggest about its prosperity?
What happens to the 'calves of Beth Aven' in v5, and who mourns over them?
In v2, what does 'their heart is divided' imply about Israel's loyalty to God?
In v12, why does Hosea urge the people to 'sow to yourselves in righteousness'?
When has a moment of success led you to neglect your commitment to God, like in v1?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Hosea 10: Ecclesiastes 11, Galatians 6, Jeremiah 4.

Before next time: read Hosea 11.