On that day—oracle of the LORD— You shall call me “My husband,” and you shall never again call me “My baal.” Hosea 2:18 NABRE
Hosea is another prophet of God who speaks about the infidelity of Israel to God. Hosea speaks of his own wife and compares her living to that of Israel who have been unfaithful. The prophet uses his own life as a symbol of God’s feeling towards Israel. God first deals with the people about unlawfulness; the people are wayward but God’s love calls for total commitment. The prophet uses marriage as a metaphor, setting up the sins as fornications and so there is prophecy denouncing Israel for continually falling into the same sins; forgetting God, worshipping idols and religious syncretism. But God desires commitment as in a spousal relationship, one for the other completely. Though Israel is unfaithful God still wants to woo her and bring her back to Him fully. It is God making a new covenant, beginning with the words, “on that day.” The first condition of the spousal relationship is that Israel will call her God, “my husband,” and not “my Baal.” Baal is a word that can mean god, also lord or husband. In wanting to be called husband the Lord is rejecting any type of mixing of religions; the God of Israel is not one more god like the Baals; He is the only God. The exclusiveness of the spousal love is spoken of as a betrothal in fidelity. It is a relationship that will last forever and it will be made with righteousness and in justice, that is, God will provide special protection to Israel, with steadfast love and mercy, He provides faithful love.
Today marriage is not viewed with the same commitment as God’s description, for God it is a relationship that is never broken. Yet, God still desires to be our spouse.
How do you see your relationship with God? Do you have a forever commitment?
The exclusiveness of the spousal love is spoken of as a betrothal in fidelity, a forever relationship made with righteousness and in justice, God will provide special protection to us with steadfast love and mercy, He provides faithful love. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #spouse #commit #Hosea #everybodyalways#god#jesuschrist#jesussaves#godisgood#dailydevotion#biblestudy#scripture#bibleverse#verseoftheday#cross#last#gospels#loveeachother#godisgreat#thisVineyard#youversion#everythingalways