"Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine."
Hosea 3:1
This is an interesting scripture. God is comparing an adulterous woman to the children of Israel, basically saying that his people have cheated on him. And yet, he loves them (us), just as he tells the prophet to love the adulterous woman. It's an interesting analogy, and perhaps one that deserves some contemplation. When we put other things before God in our lives, do we realize how serious that is? Here, God is comparing idolatry to sexual immorality. Sounds pretty serious.
I also like the fact that God mentions that this woman is beloved of her friend. I think here he is pointing out that even in our sins we are not unworthy of love. God knows that we have cheated on him, that we have put other things in his place in our lives, and yet he still loves us, and he still wants us back.
The other thing this makes me think of is "love one another; as I have loved you" (John 13:34). When he says "as I have loved you," do we realize that it is like this... as one cheated on and scorned, and yet willing to love and forgive us and restore us to a place of honor in his family? That makes our commandment to love others a lot stronger I think. God loves us and helps us even when we betray him in the worst way possible. Can we love others like *that*?
Today, let's love the people around us, no matter what. And let's love God even more, knowing how deeply and permanently he loves us, and is willing to forgive.
Hosea 3:1
This is an interesting scripture. God is comparing an adulterous woman to the children of Israel, basically saying that his people have cheated on him. And yet, he loves them (us), just as he tells the prophet to love the adulterous woman. It's an interesting analogy, and perhaps one that deserves some contemplation. When we put other things before God in our lives, do we realize how serious that is? Here, God is comparing idolatry to sexual immorality. Sounds pretty serious.
I also like the fact that God mentions that this woman is beloved of her friend. I think here he is pointing out that even in our sins we are not unworthy of love. God knows that we have cheated on him, that we have put other things in his place in our lives, and yet he still loves us, and he still wants us back.
The other thing this makes me think of is "love one another; as I have loved you" (John 13:34). When he says "as I have loved you," do we realize that it is like this... as one cheated on and scorned, and yet willing to love and forgive us and restore us to a place of honor in his family? That makes our commandment to love others a lot stronger I think. God loves us and helps us even when we betray him in the worst way possible. Can we love others like *that*?
Today, let's love the people around us, no matter what. And let's love God even more, knowing how deeply and permanently he loves us, and is willing to forgive.
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