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DECEMBER 7
4. Christians habitually practice love because love is the Christian’s assurance (4:13–16; 3:21).
Love banishes self-condemnation.When a Christian recognizes in his life the manifestation of love
in actions, it results in confidence about his relationship with God.
5. Christians habitually practice love because love is the Christian’s confidence in judgment
(4:17–20;3:16–23).Confidence is a sign that love is mature.This is not to suggest sinless perfection in
a Christian’s life,but rather a habitual practice of love marked by confidence in the face of judgment.
Christians love, not in order to escape judgment, but because they have escaped judgment.

I will pour out My wrath on them
December 7 like water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in
judgment,
Hosea 5:1–6:11 Because he willingly walked by human
precept.
5 “Hear this, O priests! 12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a
Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O house of the king! moth,
For yours is the judgment, And to the house of Judah like
Because you have been a snare rottenness.
to Mizpah 13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And a net spread on Tabor. And Judah saw his wound,
2 The revolters are deeply involved Then Ephraim went to Assyria
in slaughter, And sent to King Jareb;
Though I rebuke them all. Yet he cannot cure you,
3 I know Ephraim, Nor heal you of your wound.
And Israel is not hidden from Me; 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
For now, O Ephraim, you commit And like a young lion to the house of
harlotry; Judah.
Israel is defiled.
I, even I, will tear them and go away;
“They do not direct their deeds
4 I will take them away, and no one shall
Toward turning to their God, rescue.
For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, 15 I will return again to My place
And they do not know the LORD. Till they acknowledge their offense.
5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Then they will seek My face;
Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble In their affliction they will earnestly
in their iniquity; seek Me.”
Judah also stumbles with them. Come, and let us return to the LORD;
6 “With their flocks and herds 6 For He has torn, but He will heal us;
They shall go to seek the LORD, He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
But they will not find Him; 2 After two days He will revive us;
He has withdrawn Himself from them. On the third day He will raise us up,
7 They have dealt treacherously That we may live in His sight.
with the LORD, 3 Let us know,
For they have begotten pagan children. Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.
Now a New Moon shall devour them His going forth is established as the
and their heritage. morning;
8 He will come to us like the rain,
“Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
The trumpet in Ramah! Like the latter and former rain to the
Cry aloud at Beth Aven, earth.
‘Look behind you, O Benjamin!’ 4
9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
of rebuke; O Judah, what shall I do to you?
Among the tribes of Israel I make For your faithfulness is like a morning
cloud,
known what is sure.
And like the early dew it goes away.
“The princes of Judah are like those Therefore I have hewn them by the
10 5
who remove a landmark; prophets,
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