QT 13/10/2025 Mon. Hosea 5. They Will Seek My Face 他们必寻求我的面
QT 13/10/2025 Mon. Hosea 5. They Will Seek My Face
READ http://www.esv.org/Hosea5
📖 Verse Focus: Hosea 5:15, ESV
“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.”
🔍 Context & Summary
In Hosea 5, God continues His indictment against Israel and Judah for their spiritual adultery and arrogant rebellion. The chapter opens with a warning to priests, kings, and all people (v.1) — no one is exempt from accountability.
Instead of turning to God in humility, they turn to political alliances and false worship. Even their attempts at religious ritual are empty because their hearts are far from Him (v.6). So God allows them to experience judgment — not to destroy them, but to draw them back to repentance.
The chapter ends not with despair, but with hope:
“In their distress they will earnestly seek me.” (v.15)
💡 A Few Learning Points
(1) God Judges to Heal, Not to Destroy
“I will discipline all of them.” (v.2)
God's judgment isn't random wrath. It's a just response to sin and a merciful call to return. Like a good doctor who cuts to heal, God exposes sin to restore our relationship with Him.
(2) Religious Activity Cannot Replace Repentance
“They shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.” (v.6)
God is not impressed by rituals when the heart is hard. Offerings, prayers, or church attendance mean nothing when we ignore His Word or live in hidden sin. What He seeks is sincere repentance and a humble heart.
(3) Pride Blocks Revival
“The pride of Israel testifies to his face...” (v.5)
Pride blinds us to our need for God. Israel was too self-reliant, trusting in politics (v.13) and idols. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Brokenness is the doorway to revival.
(4) God Waits for His People to Return
“Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face...” (v.15)
God longs for restoration. He waits patiently, not passively, for His people to return. Even in judgment, His mercy is not far. This is the heart of the gospel: God makes a way through Jesus to be reconciled, forgiven, and renewed.
🛐 Prayer
Lord, we confess that we’ve often turned to other things — people, politics, performance — instead of turning to You. Forgive our pride and false worship. Give us broken hearts that long for Your presence. Thank You that even when You discipline us, it is to draw us closer. In our distress, may we seek Your face and find Your grace through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
✍️ Reflection Questions
(a) What areas of your life are “religiously active” but not spiritually surrendered?
(b) Is there pride keeping you from repentance — maybe in your heart, home, or ministry?
(c) Are you experiencing a season of dryness or discipline? Could God be calling you to return and seek Him earnestly?
🔁 Gospel Connection
This chapter echoes the gospel invitation: though we are guilty, Jesus bore our judgment so we can seek God's face without fear. He took the separation (v.6) so we can have full access to the Father. In our distress, we don’t just find mercy — we find Jesus.
QT 13/10/2025 星期一. 何西阿书 5 他们必寻求我的面
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/hos/5/
📖 经文焦点：何西阿书 5:15
“我要回到自己的地方去；直到他们承认自己的罪过，寻求我的面。在痛苦中必恳切寻求我。”
🔍 背景与概要
何西阿书第五章中，神继续控告以色列与犹大犯下的属灵淫乱与狂妄叛逆。本章以对祭司、君王及全体百姓的警告开篇（第1节）——无人能逃脱追责。
他们非但不谦卑归向神，反而投靠政治同盟与虚妄崇拜。即便是宗教仪式也形同虚设，因他们的心远离神（第6节）。于是神容许他们经历审判——并非要毁灭他们，而是要引他们归向悔改。
本章以盼望而非绝望作结：
“在痛苦中必恳切寻求我。”（第15节）
💡 学习点
(1) 神的审判为医治而非毁灭
“我要惩治他们所有的人...”（第2节）
神的审判并非无差别的愤怒，而是对罪的公义回应，更是呼召人归回的怜悯。如同良医以刀砭治病，神揭露罪恶正是为修复我们与祂的关系。
(2) 宗教仪式无法替代悔改
“虽然他们带着牛群羊群去寻求耶和华，却寻不见；他已经离开他们远去了。”（第6节）
当人心刚硬时，上帝并不看重仪式。若我们忽视祂的话语或活在隐秘的罪中，祭物、祷告或教会出席都毫无意义。祂所寻求的是真诚的悔改与谦卑的心。
(3) 骄傲阻碍复兴
“以色列的骄傲在他面前作见证……”（第5节）
骄傲使人盲目，看不见自己对神的渴求。以色列过于自恃，倚靠政治手段（第13节）与偶像。神阻挡骄傲的人，却赐恩给谦卑的人（雅各书4:6）。破碎的心才是复兴的门径。
(4) 神等候子民归回
“以色列的骄傲当面指证自己，以色列和以法莲因自己的罪孽跌倒，犹大也与他们一同跌倒。”（第15节）
神渴慕复兴。祂以耐心而非消极的态度等候子民归回。即便在审判中，祂的怜悯也近在咫尺。这正是福音的核心：神借着耶稣开辟道路，使人得以和好、蒙赦免、得更新。
🛐 祷告
主啊，我们承认常转向世俗事物——人际关系、政治权谋、功利成就——而非转向你。求你赦免我们的骄傲与虚假敬拜。赐我们破碎的心，渴慕你的同在。感谢你，即便管教也是为使我们更亲近你。愿我们在困苦中寻求你的面，借着耶稣基督得着你的恩典。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。
✍️ 反思问题
(a) 你生命中哪些领域看似“宗教活跃”，实则未真正降服于灵性？
(b) 是否骄傲阻碍了你的悔改——或许存在于你的内心、家庭或事工中？
(c) 你是否正经历一个属灵的干旱或管教的季节？神是否正在呼召你回转，并殷切地寻求祂呢？
🔁 福音连结
本章呼应了福音的邀请：虽然我们有罪，但耶稣担当了我们的审判，使我们可以毫无惧怕地寻求神的面。祂承担了那份隔绝（第6节），好让我们能完全来到父面前。在我们的困境中，我们不仅得着怜悯——我们更是遇见了耶稣。
