Love

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:

One night I had a dream. I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes of my life. In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One was mine and one was the Lord’s. When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand and to my surprise, I noticed that during some of my most troublesome times there was only one set of footprints. I told the Lord that I did not understand why He left my side when I needed Him most. He said, “my child, I never left you during your time of trial. When you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.” (Margaret Powers, Guideposts magazine, July 1992).

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.

1. “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.

2. “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.

3. “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.

4. “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.

5. “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.

6. “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.

7. “I will have mercy” (v. 23). The image is that of God sowing His people in their land 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 of His tremendous love for me He was willing to buy me back with the price He paid on the cross.