DEEPLY AND UNSELFISHLY LOVED
RECAP: SPIRITUAL ADULTERY - The Lord used Hosea and Gomer’s relationship [unconditional love] as an object lesson to show how Israel had sinned against Him by following other gods and how God remains faithful even when His people don’t.
RESUME: UNRELIEVED AGONY – Imagine this; shortly after baby Loruhamah had been weaned than Gomer conceived again. It was another boy. God told Hosea to call him Lo-ammi, which meant “not my people,” or “no kin of mine.” It symbolized Israel’s alienation from God, but it also exposed Gomer’s sinful exploits. The child born in Hosea’s house was not his. Now, after bearing three children, Gomer left Hosea to live with another man.
Then, even with this painful experience, God gave Hosea another, even more amazing, command: "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods" (Hosea 3:1). Can we be obedient as Hosea? He brought his wife back with fifteen shekels of silver and some barley (verse 2)! This loyal love, undeterred by Gomer’s unfaithfulness, God meant as a representation of His own love for His wayward, idolatrous people.
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osea prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezkiah in Judah and the last six kings in Israel. Isaiah was a contemporary prophet, and he used some very strong language to describe Judah’s unfaithfulness. Through Isaiah, God calls Jerusalem "a whore" (Isaiah 1:21, ESV) because of her spiritual unfaithfulness.
Whereas the entire second chapter of Hosea’s prophecy describes God’s relationship with his unfaithful wife Israel, it is a bit challenging to escape the feeling that it grows out of Hosea’s relationship with Gomer, pack in as it is between two chapters that clearly describe that sad and sordid story. He implored with her (2:2). He threatened to disinherit her (2:3). But still she ran off with her lovers because they promised to lavish material things on her (2:5). He tried to stop her on occasion (2:6), but she continued to seek her companions in sin (2:7). Hosea would take her back in loving forgiveness and they would try again. But her repentance would be short-lived and soon she would be off again with another new lover. …to be cont’d
In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
