HOSEA 3
And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. – Hosea 3:1-5
HOSEA 3 THE COMMAND TO LOVE AGAIN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As we serve the Lord Jesus Christ we are instructed to love
This command includes forgiving those who have betrayed us
When we show mercy to those whom we vowed to love ‘til eternity
We are exercising the same love that God has given us unconditionally
God will do anything to pursue us back into relationship with him
Shouldn’t we respond to that pursuit by turning away from all sins?
Why would God instruct Hosea to forgive his wife after her adultery and buy her back again? What was God showing to Israel when he commanded Hosea to forgive and love again his wife? God is manifesting his great mercy for his beloved wife, Israel when he asked Hosea to redeem Gomer. God was illustrating the unconditional love he has for his people despite their unfaithfulness to him. He loves them despite what they have done. He is always looking after her welfare and wouldn’t want her to perish.
The world system will never comprehend forgiveness. In such a system when a spouse has an affair, the other spouse will automatically give up on them and just contemplate divorce. But in God’s economy, we do differently. We forgive those who have sinned against us just as God forgave our sins and did not punish us with what we deserve punishment for. Instead, he gave his only begotten Son to free us from his wrath. This is unconditional love at its core.
REFLECTION
- What do you think forgiveness does to a sinful person who has received it?
