Scripture:
"The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, tough she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
(Hosea 3:1)
Devotion:
The prophecy of Hosea centers on God's unending love towards a sinful Israel.
Israel had left the one who had saved her, loved her, and made her His own.
So God tells a man named Hosea to marry a harlot.
Hosea marries her, and has children. But she leaves him and commits adultery.
Then God tells him to go after her and bring her back.
Hosea’s marriage is symbolic of God’s covenant relationship with Israel. Through Hosea, the Lord tells the story of Israel’s disobedience, His discipline, and His steadfast, faithful love:
Hosea’s wife, Gomer, leaves him for another—just like Israel has left God to worship idols. Just as Israel rejected Him, God will reject her. Israel and Judah will fall to other empires and be taken away from their promised land.
Hosea brings back his adulterous wife and loves her again. In an even greater way, God will not forget his love for Israel and Judah, nor His promises to them. He will bring them back to their land. He will restore them to Himself and to David their king: “they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days” (Hosea 3:5).
It’s the story of God and the unfaithful nation He loves anyway.
Reflection:
As we enter into Holy Week, our focus is upon Jesus. We meditate upon His supreme love for us. His willingness to suffer the most extreme pain and agony for our sake. We, who have been so unfaithful and rebellious yet Christ never ceases to love us. Hosea reveals God’s heart as a husband that is willing to continue to love his wife who has been unfaithful. We sing with our deepest gratitude to His amazing love and faithfulness.
Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace
WORTHY is the Lamb.
Prayer:
Pray with gratitude for His faithfulness toward us and our families. We acknowledge so often we strayed from Him and turned to idols, yet He never abandons us. Let’s thank Jesus for the CROSS, upon which took away our sin and shame, and brought us back to Himself. Amen.