HOSEA 2
19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. 21 “And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, 22 and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, 23and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’”– Hosea 2:19-23
HOSEA 2 RENEWED LOVE AND RESTORED MARRIAGE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
God’s relentless love was manifest when he woes back Israel
He will go through the beginnings of a love renewed once again
The Lord is courting his beloved Israel as if she wasn’t unfaithful
He will renew all his care and provision and grant mercy to his people
The Lord will claim back his covenant promise with them like new
He will be their God and Israel will be his own people.
In this account, we witness God’s unfailing love for his wife, Israel. He renews his love for them and would do everything to restore the marriage they originally had. The narrative gives us a glimpse on the fact that God would renew His love for Israel and would restore their “marriage” relationship. In 2 Samuel 3:14 David paid to get his wife Michal back. That was the tradition in ancient days in the East. The man paid a price to seal the agreement when he became engaged and the couple will be regarded as good as married in the law. According to Dr. Constable’s commentary, “What the Lord vowed to give Israel to seal this nuptial agreement was righteousness (what was right), justice (fair treatment), loyal love (unswerving commitment), compassion (tender affection), and faithfulness (dependability). This was God’s marriage vow for Israel. In response, Israel would recognize her special relationship to Him and show this by faithfully obeying Him.” Their agricultural losses will again be restored. In that coming day of blessing the Lord would restore agricultural productivity to the land. He would respond to the heavens, personified as crying to Him to send rain. This message stresses the renewed fertility and restored favor that Israel could anticipate because Yahweh would reach out and save her in the future.” God expresses his mercy on his beloved wife and changes back the name Jezreel which means “God sows or plants.” Israel used to call Baal who they considered the god of harvest. God was willing to restore them into a good harvest in the future.
REFLECTION
- How do you think a marriage that was touched by adultery can still be repaired?
