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God’s love for His people is demonstrated in the love that
Hosea had for his wife, Gomer. She was described as “a wife
of whoredoms” (1:2). She was given to the sin of adultery,
and after her marriage to Hosea, that sin found full
expression in her numerous adulterous relationships with
other men.
Indictment of Israel (2:2-5)
Gomer was persistently unfaithful. God told Hosea “Go yet,
love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress”
(3:1). The implication is that this was not the first time
that Hosea forgave Gomer for her unfaithfulness. In Chapter
2, Hosea was losing all hope of persuading Gomer to be
faithful; so he turned to his children to plead with their
mother (2:2). The word “plead” has the meaning of “making a
legal case” (see 1 Sam. 24:15). Although it seems that Hosea
was ready to give, the real intent was to regain Gomer. What
were Gomer’s sins?
A. Unfaithfulness
Gomer had broken her marriage vows with Hosea. He longed to
have Gomer back, but before she could come back, she must
put away her sins (2:2). Failing which, there would be
judgment – God would “set her as in the day that she was
born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry
land, and slay her with thirst” (2:3). Ezekiel 16 gives a
very vivid picture of the birth of Israel, God’s love upon
her, and Israel’s treachery. Ezekiel’s warning was directed
at the southern kingdom of Judah. Hosea’s warning was aimed
at the northern kingdom of Israel (2:4).
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Hosea’s love for Gomer is God’s love for sinners and
unfaithful believers. No matter how far we have strayed from
Him, we can always humble ourselves and return to God
through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Ungratefulness
“I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my
water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink” (2:5).
Gomer left Hosea for material reasons. She “played the
harlot” (2:5). She was an “hired lover” (8:9). The sin of
Gomer is the sin of materialism. It is the worship of
mammon.
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“A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
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We must learn to praise God from whom all blessings
flow.
Judgment for Israel (2:6-13)
God’s love is unwavering, but it is also a disciplining
love. Where there is sin, God will judge. In Chapter 2,
God’s judgments are introduced by the word “therefore” (2:6,
9).
A. Disruption
God will put a hedge of thorns in the way of Gomer, and
Israel and sinners (2:6; see also Job 1:9-11). The hedge of
thorns was used to keep Gomer away from sin.
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Thank God that in our pursuit of sin God in His mercy put
up barriers to hinder our quest.
B. Deprivation
If the hedge of thorns was not enough to bring about true
repentance, then God would bring about deprivation. The
earth and its fullness belong to God. If God’s people are
ungrateful, He would deprive Israel of His blessings and
provisions (Deut. 8:7-20).
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Be a thankful people.
Betrothal of Israel (2:14-23)
The third “therefore” was not a judgment, but it was God
extending His hand of grace (2:14).
There is nothing to suggest that the children of Israel did
anything to deserve God’s grace. Rather it is God’s
initiative. In Hosea 2:14-23, God speaks in the first person
identifying Himself as the one who acts in our favour.
God takes the initiative to love and to draw
(allure) sinners back to Him (2:14). God blesses the people
with the abundance of His gifts (2:15). God opens the door
of hope (2:15). The valley of Achor was the valley of
trouble, a reference to the defeat of Israel because of
Achan’s sin (Josh. 7).
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Achor – the valley of defeat – is also the door of
hope. Not all defeats are bad. When defeats point us to God,
and cause us to draw near to Him, the defeat becomes a door
of hope.
God will bring about a positive response from the people
(2:16). Ishi and Baali are synonyms, meaning “my husband”
with a significant difference. “Ishi” describes a
relationship that is founded upon love and grace. “Baali”
refers to the legal right that a man has over a woman, a
relationship of legal commitment.
God says, “I will betroth [marry] thee unto Me for
ever” (2:19). It will be a union that is based upon grace.
It will be a personal union. And it will be a permanent
union. It is also a union that is based on the character of
God – His righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, mercies
and faithfulness (2:19-20).
The result of this union is this: “Thou shalt know
the Lord” (2:20). This union is also accompanied by several
privileges – we have a God who answers our prayers, provides
for our needs, and with whom we are closely related – “Thou
art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God”
(2:21-23).
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Do you know the love of God? Is He your God?
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Christian, consider what does it mean for you to say,
““Thou art my God”? |
