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Love Her as the LORD Loves the Israelites

Hosea 3:1-5

Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

First, Hosea redeems Gomer (1-3). Gomer lived an adulterous life even after marriage, and she became a slave as a result. Yet God commanded Hosea to redeem her from slavery, bring her home and love her as before despite all that had happened. Hosea obeyed. Redeeming her was costly. Hosea renewed their marriage covenant of faithfulness. 

Second, Israel will return (4-5). Why did God have Hosea do this? He wanted Hosea to love Gomer as God loved Israel. Just as Gomer suffered in slavery due to sin, Israel would suffer with no king or religion, not even personal idols. In their exile and agony, they would come back to God and seek God’s rule in their lives. He says: “Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days” (5). God’s covenant to David points to the Messiah Jesus. Through Jesus God would redeem his people. All who sin are slaves to sin. But Gold loves even unfaithful sinners, and redeems them in Jesus.

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is a living parable of God’s covenant love with Israel. God’s love never changes. He calls sinners back to himself even after they have gone astray. He calls sinners who have backslidden into new fellowship with himself. God’s love is also a redemptive love that buys sinners back. God reconciled us to himself through Christ on the cross. Jesus literally paid the ransom for our sins by shedding his precious blood on the cross (Mk 10:45). 

Thank you Father for saving me from my sins through the blood of Jesus. Thank you for forgiving me even when I backslid into my old life and returned to my sinful ways like a dog returning to its vomit. I praise your grace and love for me an unworthy sinner. Help me to also be willing to pay the cost to save sinners by participating in your ongoing suffering for sinners. Bless all of my Bible students with a deep sense of your grace and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: As the Lord loved Israel…