You are here, I feel your embrace.
You are here, I am safe in this place.
You are here, now everything's changed.
You are here, in Your presence I will stay.
Strong enough to protect. Real enough to transform. Love enough to remain.
Hosea son of Beeri prophesied about the middle of the eighth century B.C. Hosea lived in the tragic final days of the northern kingdom, during which six kings (following Jeroboam II) reigned within 25 years (2 Kings 15:8-17:41). Four (Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, Pekah) were murdered by their successors while in office, and one (Hoshea) was captured in battle; only one (Menahem) was succeeded on the throne by his son. These kings, given to Israel by God "in anger" and taken away "in wrath" (13:11), floated away "like twig on the surface of the waters" (10:7). " Introduction to Hosea, NIV Study Bible.
Hosea is the prophet of love, but not love as we imagine or fantasize it. He was a parable of God's love for his people lived out as God revealed and enacted it - a lived parable. It is an astonishing story: a prophet commanded to marry a common whore and have children with her. It is an even more astonishing message: God loves us in just this way - goes after us at our worst, keeps after us until he gets us, and makes lovers of men and women who know nothing about real love. Introduction to Hosea, The Message.
This is God's Message to Hosea son of Beeri. It came to him during the royal reigns of Judah's kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This was also the time that Jeroboam son of Joash was king over Israel.
The first time GOD spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And here's why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, GOD."
Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son.
Then GOD told him: "Name him Jezreel. It won't be long now before I'll make the people of Israel pay for the massacre at Jezreel. I'm calling it quits on the kingdom of Israel. Payday is coming! I'm going to chop Israel's bows and arrows into kindling in the valley of Jezreel." Gomer got pregnant again. This time she had a daughter. GOD told Hosea: "Name this one No-Mercy. I'm fed up with Israel. I've run out of mercy. There's no more forgiveness. Judah's another story. I'll continue having mercy on them. I'll save them. It will be their GOD who saves them, not their armaments and armies, not their horsepower and manpower."
After Gomer had weaned No-Mercy, she got pregnant yet again and had a son. GOD said: "Name him Nobody. You've become nobodies to me, and I, GOD, am a nobody to you. "But down the road the population of Israel is going to explode past counting, like sand on the ocean beaches. In the very place where they were once named Nobody, they will be named God's Somebody. Everyone in Judah and everybody in Israel will be assembled as one people. They'll choose a single leader. There'll be no stopping them - a great day in Jezreel! Hosea 1 The Message.
Would anyone marry a whore, an adulteress? How much pain, hurt, rejection would one experience in such a relationship? How much misery? How much sorrow? What would make one wait for a whore?
What would make a person choose to remain in a relationship that is unequal, unrequited, unappreciated? How does one remain sane under such conditions when treated like dirt?
If not for commitment, it would have been unbearable. If not for the future, the present would have killed the frailest of hope. If not for a love that endures.
Would it not be enough for Hosea to be GOD's voice? Why did he have to go through all that in his life to make GOD's point known? What went on inside him? How did his friends and relatives view him?
We don't know. The Bible didn't say. I suppose he hung in there, he remained faithful, just as GOD did and He still do. I hope he found reprieve and happiness in his marriage and family life at the end.
Perhaps we can take a lesson or two from a love such as this. One that endures. One that remains.
Shalom,
Sv ".+
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