The greatest engagement
Hosea 2:19 – 20
The first question that comes to mind is what does betroth means?
The word betroth = to be engaged. According to the dictionary it is a deed with a promise of marriage. According to the Law it is a contract of highest faith between a man and a woman to get married in the near future. The reason for an engagement is because the couple desires to get married.
In the time of the Bible it had the following meaning: Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed.
An engagement is thus an agreement where two parties decide to get married at a later time. This is very important to remember throughout this message. Another important fact to remember is that this agreement is made between two people who really love one another. And in this agreement both parties have certain responsibilities.
In this part of Scripture we find God Almighty promising to engage Himself unto His people. But He does more than that; He also gives us His responsibilities in this engagement. Because of His great love for you and me, God makes a promise to us that one day He wants to marry us. He wants to take us to be His wife and to confirm that He is prepared to be engaged to us.
Let us look at the way He is prepared to be engaged to us.
Firstly, He says that He will be engaged to us for ever.
BBE: And I will take you as my bride for ever
CEV: I will accept you as my wife forever,
According to the dictionary forever means a length of time without beginning or end. God says that He loves you so much He wants to be united with you forever.
GNE: I will make you mine forever.
Listen to what this entails for you and me.
Deuteronomy 31:6
AMP: Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.
BBE: Be strong and take heart, and have no fear of them: for it is the Lord your God who is going with you; he will not take away his help from you.
CEV: Be brave and strong! Don’t be afraid of the nations on the other side of the Jordan. The LORD your God will always be at your side, and he will never abandon you.
MSG: "Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because GOD, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you."
Forever.
Isaiah 49:15
AMP: [And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.
BBE: Will a woman give up the child at her breast, will she be without pity for the fruit of her body? yes, these may, but I will not let you go out of my memory.
Hebrews 13:5
AMP: be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
He is our fiancé forever.
Secondly, He says that He will be engaged to us in righteousness.
According to the dictionary righteousness is an obligation or commitment of God against Himself as a Holy Being. In other words God says that because He is God He commits Himself as God towards us.
Isaiah 54:14
ASV: In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.
Because of His engagement to us, we will be established as His bride.
Isaiah 32:17
AMP: And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
Thirdly, God says that He will be engaged to us in judgment.
That means that God says that He will take care of every situation that we will face. That means that I do not have to worry about anything because He will be in charge and in control.
Isaiah 42:3
AMP: A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth.
MSG: He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.
Exodus 14:14
AMP: The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.
Fourthly, God says that He will be engaged to us in lovingkindness.
GNE: I will show you My constant love.
God says that His love for us will never ever die. He will keep on loving us irregardless of what we have done or have failed to do. In fact, nothing that I do can change His love for me.
Five: God says that He will be engaged to us in mercies.
That means that He will be our strength, our right hand.
Psalm 121:3 – 8
Isaiah 41:10
AMP: Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
MSG: Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Six: God says that He will be engaged to us in faithfulness.
That means that God will be true to His character and to His Word.
Numbers 23:19
AMP: God is not a man that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?
CEV: God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.
GNB: God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises, he does; He speaks, and it is done.
Every promise that God has made belongs to those who accept His engagement and only in their lives will these promises be fulfilled.
Isaiah 46:11
AMP: Calling a ravenous bird from the east--the man [Cyrus] who executes My counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, and I will do it.
GW: I will call a bird of prey from the east. I will call someone for my plan from a faraway land. I have spoken, and I will bring it about. I have planned it, and I will do it.
MSG: Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I’ve said it, and I’ll most certainly do it. I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done.
Now listen, an engagement can only be valid and fulfilled if the other party accept it.
Have you accepted God’s engagement?
