There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Hosea 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The prophecy of Hosea is a love story with a twist.
It is about the persevering love of a betrayed husband.
Yes he is angry, he refuses to enable her self-destructive behaviour, but through it all he still loves her, and is endeavoring to bring her back.
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. [Hosea 2:14]
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. [Hosea 2:19-20]
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. [John 3:28-29]
John the Baptist sees himself as a friend of the Bridegroom, like Hosea the prophet that points to the Lord Himself.
He intentionally uses the imagery of a bridegroom, knowing that this has always been a prophetic symbol for God’s faithful love in spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness.
He is in the wilderness, speaking tenderly to God’s people, alluring them back to God through repentance and faith and a new beginning (baptism).
When Jesus comes, his joy is complete, because this is what he has been waiting for.
Jesus also describes Himself as the bridegroom, once again taking the familiar prophetic symbol of God’s faithful love and Israel’s unfaithfulness.
Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast. [Luke 5:34-35]
He is God, in the flesh, coming to His unfaithful covenant partner, speaking tenderly to her, alluring her back to Himself, declaring His unfailing love for her despite her sin.
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. [Hosea 2:19-20]
The imagery of marriage is not so much about me and God, but about us as a people united to God in a eternal covenant of love.
Yes, God loves me, but even more importantly He loves the church, warts and all.
The church which is so messed up, which makes Him so angry, He still loves.
And if He still loves her, and is patient with her, shouldn’t we be?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for not giving up on me, and on us. Thank You for loving the church despite our unfaithfulness. Woo us back, help us come back to our first love!