“I Will Love Them Freely”

Day 1 · A Marriage of Mercy

1. What did the Lord command Hosea to do, as a living symbol to Israel?
2. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, what did the Lord continue to promise through Hosea?
3. What did Hosea do when his wife had gone astray, according to Hosea 3?
4. What names did Hosea give two of his children, symbolizing Israel's broken covenant?
5. What ultimate promise softens these harsh symbolic names, later in Hosea?

Day 2 · Mercy, Not Sacrifice

1. “For I desired ____, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
2. What complaint does the Lord bring against His people in Hosea 4?
3. Hosea 6 compares Israel's repentance to what natural but fleeting thing?
4. What invitation does Hosea 6 give regarding the Lord's healing?
5. What warning does Hosea 4 give about priests who reject knowledge?

Day 3 · I Will Love Them Freely

1. How does the Lord answer repentant Israel in Hosea 14?
2. Hosea 10 counsels Israel to sow to themselves in righteousness, and reap in what?
3. What tender image does Hosea 11 use to describe God's love for Israel as a child?
4. Hosea 13 asks a question later echoed as a resurrection promise: “O death, I will be thy ____.”
5. How does Hosea 14 describe Israel blossoming once restored?

Day 4 · I Will Pour Out My Spirit

1. “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall ____.”
2. “And rend your ____, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.”
3. What did the Lord promise to restore to repentant Israel, in Joel 2?
4. What description does Joel 2 give of the Lord that invites repentance?
5. What gathering does Joel 2 call for, before pronouncing these promises?

Day 5 · The Day of the Lord

1. What disaster opens the book of Joel, prompting the call to repentance?
2. Joel 3 describes multitudes gathered in what valley for judgment?
3. “The Lord also shall roar out of ____, and utter his voice from Jerusalem.”
4. What promise follows this roar from Zion, for the faithful?
5. What agricultural blessing does Joel 3 promise for the last days?

Day 6 · Redeeming, Patient Love

1. Hosea's own marriage became a living symbol of God's redeeming love for an unfaithful Israel — he continued to seek out and redeem his wife despite her unfaithfulness. What does this teach about God's love for us?
2. The Lord had Hosea reclaim his unfaithful wife as a living symbol of God's love for wayward Israel. What does this teach?
3. Joel prophesied that in the last days God would “pour out [his] spirit upon all flesh,” with sons and daughters prophesying. What does this teach?

Day 7 · “Living in the Fulness of Times”

1. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that the outpouring of the Spirit which the ancient prophet Joel foresaw has been what?
2. President Hinckley taught that, despite “the afflictions about us” and “the conflict that sweeps across the world,” we can do what?
3. President Hinckley expressed deep gratitude that we live in what he called what?