Hosea 1-4; Psalm 137
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The next book of the Bible, Hosea, takes us back in time to the
reign of Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom of Israel when Israel was very
prosperous, very powerful, and turning very far from God. Hosea was a prophet of God to Israel in
this time. We’ve seen before in
prophets’ lives that God used them as visual symbols for his message, but never
in quite a personal and emotional way as with Hosea.
God tells Hosea to marry a woman who he knows will be an
adulterous wife. She slept around
with other men; she humiliated Hosea and dragged his reputation through the
mud, yet he loved her. She sunk so
low that she sold herself into slavery, but Hosea bought her and took her back
after God told him, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved
by another and is an adulteress.
Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other
gods…”
Hosea’s personal story parallels how God feels toward Israel. It shows how deeply and powerfully he
loves, and how it breaks His heart for His people to turn away from Him. God said of Israel, “She decked herself
with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot.” He would punish her, but He would never
stop loving her, and He would take her back. He desires relationship. “In that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘you will call me ‘my
husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.”
Chuck Missler says in his book Learn
the Bible in 24 Hours, “No other prophet gave as complete an outline in the
ways of God with His earthly people as did Hosea. God suffers when His people are unfaithful to him. God cannot condone sin and yet will
never cease to love His own. And
consequently, He seeks to win back those who have forsaken Him.”
I’m so thankful for His undying love. I’m so thankful that He not only forgives me when I fail, He
not only welcomes me back - He seeks after me and wants to keep me close.
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