Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 10
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: God’s Relationship with Israel
Previous Lesson: True Religion and Social Justice: Opposition, Judgement and Steadfastness.
Topic: Divine Love
Subject Matter: Meaning of divine love (God’s faithful love despite human unfaithfulness), God asks Hosea to marry Gomer and raise children (Hosea 1), Hosea’s marriage illustrates Israel’s harlotry in forsaking God and following idols, unfaithfulness of Israel to God and God’s continuous love (Hosea 2:3), Israel’s superficial response to God’s love (Hosea 6:1-11), God demands steadfast love and knowledge of Him (Hosea 6:6), positive response to God’s love requires penitence (Hosea 6:1-4), God promises restoration for those who return in repentance (Hosea 14)
Specific Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Cognitive Domain:
- Identify Hosea’s theme message.
- Explain the symbolic nature of Hosea’s marriage.
- Explain the significance of the names of Hosea’s children.
Affective Domain:
- Appreciate God’s faithful love despite human unfaithfulness.
- Value steadfast love and knowledge of God.
- Respond positively to God’s love through repentance.
Psychomotor Domain:
- Recite the memory verse (Hosea 6:6).
- Apply principles of repentance in their lives.
Social Domain:
- Discuss Israel’s responses to God’s love.
- Encourage others to return to God in repentance.
Reference Materials
The following resources were used in planning this lesson:
- Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
- State Unified Scheme of Work
- Christian Religious Studies for Senior Secondary Schools 2
Instructional Materials
The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:
- Bible
- Textbook
- Charts illustrating Hosea’s family tree or timeline
Rationale for the Lesson
This lesson helps pupils understand God’s unwavering love and faithfulness, even when people are unfaithful. It teaches them about the importance of repentance and how God offers restoration to those who return to Him.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils should have prior knowledge of major prophets and the history of Israel’s relationship with God.
Lesson Content/Board Summary
Divine Love
Introduction to Hosea’s Message
The book of Hosea portrays God’s deep and enduring love for Israel, comparing it to the faithful love of a husband for his unfaithful wife. It highlights God’s sorrow over Israel’s spiritual adultery and His desire for their repentance and restoration.
Memory Verse
Hosea 6:6 – “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Bible Reading
- Hosea 1
- Hosea 2:3
- Hosea 6:1-11
- Hosea 14
Meaning of Divine Love
Divine love, as shown in Hosea, refers to God’s faithful and unwavering love for humanity, even when humans are unfaithful to Him. It is a persistent, covenantal love that seeks reconciliation and restoration despite repeated betrayal.
Hosea’s Marriage to Gomer and its Symbolism (Hosea 1)
God commanded the prophet Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. This marriage served as a living parable to illustrate Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (harlotry) in forsaking God and following idols.
- God’s Command: Hosea was told to marry a woman of harlotry to symbolize Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness.
- Children’s Names and Significance:
- Jezreel: Signified God’s judgment on the house of Jehu and the end of Israel’s kingdom.
- Lo-Ruhamah (No Mercy): Represented God’s withdrawal of mercy from Israel due to their persistent sin.
- Lo-Ammi (Not My People): Declared that Israel was no longer God’s people because they had broken the covenant.
Israel’s Unfaithfulness and God’s Continuous Love (Hosea 2:3)
Israel continually turned away from God, worshipping other gods and relying on foreign alliances, which was seen as spiritual adultery. Despite this unfaithfulness, God’s love remained constant, pursuing Israel with the hope of their return.
Israel’s Superficial Response to God’s Love (Hosea 6:1-11)
Israel often offered outward acts of worship and sacrifice without genuine repentance or a change of heart. Their devotion was fleeting, like a morning mist, lacking true commitment to God.
God Demands Steadfast Love and Knowledge of Him (Hosea 6:6)
God desires a deep, personal relationship with His people, characterized by loyal love (hesed) and a true knowledge of Him, rather than mere ritualistic offerings.
Positive Response to God’s Love Requires Penitence (Hosea 6:1-4)
To respond positively to God’s love, Israel needed to genuinely repent, turn back to God, and seek His face. True penitence involves acknowledging sin and a sincere desire to change.
God Promises Restoration for Those Who Return in Repentance (Hosea 14)
Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God promised restoration and healing for those who would genuinely repent and return to Him. He offered to love them freely and bless them abundantly.
Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques
Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids
Instructional Procedures
Step 1: Introduction
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall any Bible stories they know about God’s love for His people, even when they made mistakes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and share their knowledge of God’s love.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of divine love and its relevance.
Step 2: Meaning of Divine Love
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of divine love as God’s faithful love despite human unfaithfulness, using simple examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the core definition of divine love.
Step 3: Hosea’s Marriage and its Symbolism
Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of God asking Hosea to marry Gomer and discusses how this marriage symbolized Israel’s spiritual harlotry. The teacher also explains the significance of the names of Hosea’s children.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the narration and identify the symbolic meaning of Hosea’s marriage and his children’s names.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the central metaphor of the book of Hosea.
Step 4: Israel’s Unfaithfulness and God’s Continuous Love
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides the pupils to discuss how Israel showed unfaithfulness to God and how God still demonstrated continuous love for them, referencing Hosea 2:3.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the discussion, identifying examples of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s love.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the contrast between Israel’s actions and God’s character.
Step 5: God’s Demand for Steadfast Love
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains Israel’s superficial response to God’s love (Hosea 6:1-11) and emphasizes God’s demand for steadfast love and knowledge of Him, as stated in Hosea 6:6.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and identify the difference between superficial and genuine love for God.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the quality of relationship God desires.
Step 6: Repentance and Restoration
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guidance
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils to understand that a positive response to God’s love requires penitence (Hosea 6:1-4) and explains God’s promise of restoration for those who return in repentance (Hosea 14).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the importance of repentance and the hope of restoration.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the path to reconciliation with God.
Step 7: Evaluation/Review
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:
- What is divine love as portrayed in the book of Hosea?
- Explain why God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer.
- State the significance of the names Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi.
- According to Hosea 6:6, what does God desire more than sacrifices?
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.
Step 8: Conclusion
Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson, reiterating God’s faithful love and the call for genuine repentance and knowledge of God. The teacher also encourages pupils to live in a way that reflects God’s steadfast love.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and reflect on the lesson’s implications for their lives.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding and are encouraged to apply the lesson.
Lesson Keywords
- Divine Love – God’s faithful and unwavering love for humanity despite human unfaithfulness.
- Hosea – An Old Testament prophet whose marriage symbolized God’s relationship with Israel.
- Gomer – Hosea’s wife, whose unfaithfulness represented Israel’s spiritual adultery.
- Jezreel – A symbolic name for Hosea’s first child, signifying God’s judgment.
- Lo-Ruhamah – A symbolic name meaning “No Mercy,” indicating God’s withdrawal of mercy from Israel.
- Lo-Ammi – A symbolic name meaning “Not My People,” indicating Israel’s broken covenant.
- Steadfast Love – (Hesed) Loyal, unchanging love that God desires from His people.
- Repentance – A sincere turning away from sin and back to God.
Differentiation
For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research other prophets who used symbolic actions. For those who need more support, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the biblical passages and use visual aids more extensively to explain the symbolism.
Note for teachers using this lesson plan
Teachers should emphasize the timeless message of God’s persistent love and the importance of genuine repentance in personal lives. Encourage pupils to reflect on their own relationship with God and how they can demonstrate steadfast love and knowledge of Him.
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