The God Who Weeps and Woos
How Hosea reveals the heartache—and the hope—of a faithful God.
When I consider the attributes of God, I meditate on words like: present, all-knowing, sovereign, compassionate, forgiving, full of grace and truth. These words flow freely. But often in the mix of the comfort and peace these words give, I forget to consider the God who feels sorrow over all those daily choices that move me towards the sins that continue to cling so closely (Hebrews 12:1). When was the last time I pictured a God who weeps over my choices? He is the God who remains faithful to His word—even when I am faithless (2 Timothy 2:13), but that doesn’t mean that His faithfulness does not come at a price.
The Harlot, The Husband, and the Heart of God
In the Book of Hosea, we read about a prophet who was called by God to marry a harlot. A harlot! Why this image? I believe it was to illustrate the heart of a God who chooses to remain faithful to His covenant promises, even when His covenant partner walks away from theirs. The words in this book are so full of passion! The tales of a harlot’s life is such a bold move by God, and one that I believe profoundly reveals a heart that is set on delivering His people from their gross acts of sin. There are words and phrases that lie underneath the blood that covers our gross acts—a “band-aid” that will remain until Jesus returns to set us free from the curse that was delivered in Genesis 3.
Could we pause our day and meditate on those things, prompting us to an act of repentance?
· The land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD (Hosea 1:2)
· The LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore, the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, and also the fish of the sea disappear (Hosea 4:1-3).
· Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved harlots’ earnings on every threshing floor (Hosea 9:1).
· Your fathers devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved (Hosea 9:10).
And then, tucked deep inside of Hosea 13:6, I find some of the saddest words in the book:
· As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore, they forgot Me.
The King Still Comes
We need to see this. We need to sit with these words and allow them to lead us to confession and prayerfully (by the Spirit’s prompting) repentance. We must not look away from what our sin does to a Father who still weeps over it. His hurt over Israel’s sin and rejection of Him did not stop Him from sending the Deliverer He promised, and it will not keep Him from sending Him back to us. One day, Jesus will ride on that white horse as our Faithful and True God, the King, His robe dipped in blood, His name called The Word of God, coming in righteousness to tread the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty (Revelation 19:11-15). He will come—the God who endures our continuous rejections of His word, the God who still weeps over our sin—He will come. He sent the Savior to cover us with His blood so that all unrighteousness would be kept beneath it. Yes, Jesus’ blood made a way for God to endure the sorrow with compassion and long-suffering love, and His love will endure forever.
Please don’t miss this as you read through the Book of Hosea.
Read through the following ways the prophet reminds us:
· Behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her (Hosea 2:14).
· I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD (Hosea 2:19-20).
· I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of the appointed festival. I have also spoken to the prophets, and I gave numerous visions, and through the prophets I gave parables (Hosea 12:0-10).
· I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt; and you were not to know any god except Me, for there is no savior besides Me (Hosea 13:4).
Return to Me: Hearing God’s Heart in Hosea
Would you allow me to ask where you are in your faith walk today?
As you read through the fourteen chapters of Hosea, is it easier for you to resonate with the parts that reveal the God who disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6)? Do you feel a bit justified when you see His punishment for those who have sinned against Him, yet fail to recognize yourself in that list? Do you struggle with the One who takes you to the wilderness, allows you to be carried away by your pride so that you will choose to return to Him for salvation? I want to meet you in that place, but I don’t want to leave you there. Instead, allow me to take you to the final words of the prophet in Chapter 14, and leave you in a place that will put your focus on the all-pursuing God who loves you out of your sinful choices and straight into His arms of mercy and grace.
Let’s pray the following words together as we listen to the heart of a Father whose heart is still set on love, a love that not only extends to Israel, but to you and I as well:
Return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Take words with you, and return to the LORD.
Say to Him, “Take away all my iniquity and receive me with Your grace, that I may present the fruit of my lips”.
Because in Him the orphan finds mercy.
He will heal your apostasy.
He will love you freely, for He has turned His anger away from you.
You will be like the morning’s dew to Him; and you will blossom like the lily, taking root like the cedars of Lebanon.
Your shoots will sprout, and your beauty will be like the olive tree and your fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
He will answer you and look after you.
He is like a luxuriant cypress; and from Him (only) comes any fruit you will ever bear.
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them…
