Redeeming Love
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people.
Luke 1:68
To understand the book of Hosea, one must understand the background against which it is written. The book of Hosea was written by the prophet whose name it bears. The name “Hosea” means, “salvation.” This book is literally a message of salvation to a spiritually bankrupt people.
During the days of Hosea’s ministry, Israel was a very prosperous nation materially. They enjoyed peace politically and militarily, but they were morally bankrupt. Verse 1, of our text describes their spiritual condition. They are said to, “look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.” Among the “other gods” they looked to was the Canaanite God Baal. The worship of Baal, and his consort Ashtaroth, involved acts so vile that I will not honour sin by describing them. Suffice it to say that Israel was guilty of great spiritual evil.
While the people of Israel had no real love for God, for His Word, or for His worship, when the prophet Hosea came, they were very interested in his actions. That is why God often used the personal lives of the prophets to illustrate His relationship with Israel. That is the case in the book of Hosea.
God uses Hosea, his wife Gomer, and the children born to them, as a picture of His relationship with Israel. Through this family, God will reveal His love for His wayward people.
In Hosea’s relationship with Gomer, we are allowed to see a wonderful portrait of the redemption we have in Christ Jesus. I wonder, have you experienced the wonder of God redeeming love?
Read
Hosea 3:1-4.
Prayer
Father God, It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High God, my Redeemer and Lord. Amen.
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