A Picture of The Divine Lover
September 25, 2019
Commentary
Gomer broke Hosea’s heart but because if it she made it possible for him to give the world a picture of the “divine lover.” He promised His love in the repeated “I will” statements to the Jewish people.
“I will allure“ (v. 14). God doesn’t try to force His people to love Him but woos them as a lover woos his beloved and seeks her hand in marriage.“I will give“ (v. 15). The Lord changes the meaning of a name, “the Valley of Achor” (trouble) to “a door of hope” through which Israel would enter into a new life.“I will take away“ (vv. 16-17). God declares an end to idolatry among His people and that the divine marriage relationship will be restored.“I will make a covenant“ (v. 18). The reconciliation between Israel and God will extend to the animal kingdom which has been hostile to man since the fall.“I will betroth“ (vv. 19-20). Among the wedding gifts will be everything that Israel has lacked during her years of separation from her Husband, Jehovah God.“I will hear“ (vv. 21-22). These two verses describe a conversation in which the Lord speaks to the heavens and the earth as they respond to each other and bring blessing to God’s people.“I will have mercy“ (v. 23). The image is that of God sowing His people the way a farmer sows seed. He says “thou art my people” and they respond, “thou art my God.”
Application
Hosea had to pay to get Gomer back but he loved her so much he was willing to do that. Because od Christ’s love for me He was willing to buy me back with the price He paid on the cross. Because of His great love for me I need to share His love with others around me.
Hosea 2:14– 23 (NET)
14 âHowever, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
15 From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the âValley of Troubleâ into an âOpportunity for Hope.â There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16 At that time,â declares the Lord, âyou will call, âMy husbandâ; you will never again call me, âMy master.â
17 For I will remove the names of the Baal idols from your lips, so that you will never again utter their names!
18 âAt that time I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creatures that crawl on the ground. I will abolish the warriorâs bow and swordâ that is, every weapon of warfare âfrom the land, and I will allow them to live securely.
19 I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion.
20 I will commit myself to you in faithfulness; then you will acknowledge the Lord.
21 âAt that time, I will willingly respond,â declares the Lord. âI will respond to the sky, and the sky will respond to the ground;
22 then the ground will respond to the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil; and they will respond to âGod Plantsâ (Jezreel)!
23 Then I will plant her as my own in the land. I will have pity on âNo Pityâ (Lo-Ruhamah). I will say to âNot My Peopleâ (Lo-Ammi), âYou are my people!â And he will say, âYou are my God!ââ