August 8, 2025 - Hosea 1-3

I always enjoy it when the book of Hosea rolls around.  Hosea's biography is a story of adultery and redemption.  His wife, Gomer, constantly chases after other men, in the same way that Israel regularly commits spiritual adultery by following the idols.  Even the names of the prophet's children are so discouraging:  “Jezreel” (because of punishment that is coming), “No Mercy,” and “Not My People.”  As a husband is rightly enraged and saddened by his wife’s adultery, so the Lord is amazed at what he sees among his people.  He has so blessed them; he’s the one who “gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold,” (2:8), but they turned around and gave their blessings to Baal!

The Lord will punish Israel, but punishment is not the last word.  The Lord says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” (2:14), and Israel will respond.  The Lord will have mercy on No Mercy, and he will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” and they will say, “You are my God” (2:23).  For Hosea and Gomer, and also God and Israel, not wrath but mercy and redemption are the last words in this story.

The Lord, how kind are all his ways,

When most they seem severe!

He frowns, and scourges, and rebukes,

That we may learn his fear.

With thorns he fences up our path,

And builds a wall around,

To guard us from the death that lurks

In sin’s forbidden ground.   -- Philip Doddridge (1812)