June 19, 2021 – Hosea 1-3 (again)
Hosea, one of my favorite OT books. The first three chapters are especially sweet. Hosea’s wife, Gomer, is unfaithful. She has spurned the prophet and gone after other lovers. Of course, all this is a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, as she had gone after her idols. God assures Israel that he will discipline her, but he also declares: “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal’” (2:14-16).
Because of his love, God will do whatever is necessary to restore his relationship with Israel. Similarly, in chapter three, Hosea goes after his wayward wife, Gomer. He continued to love her, no matter how she had treated him, and that love resulted in reconciliation. This is how God loves us! Though we, as his children, sin against him, time and time and time again, he comes to us and draws us back to himself. What wonderful love!
A joy by day, a peace by night,
In storms a calm, in darkness light;
In pain a balm, in weakness might,
Is the wonderful love of Jesus!
Wonderful love! wonderful love!
Wonderful love of Jesus!
Wonderful love! wonderful love!
Wonderful love of Jesus! --E. S. Lorenz