Hosea 3: “Love Constraining to Obedience”

​And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.
 
Meditation
The steadfast love of God will not leave or forsake His people. The unified narrative of Scripture emphasizes Paul’s prayer in Ephesians for God’s people to be “rooted and grounded in love, having strength to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breath, length, height, and depth, to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:16-19).
 
God called the prophet Hosea to “go again” to love Gomer, who we come to find out had gone to be with another man (1). Hosea’s pursuit of Gomer was a living picture of a God whose love always pursues His people.
 
Redeeming love is costly. Hosea bought Gomer back with precious silver and foodstuffs, (2) pointing to Jesus who “loved us and gave Himself for us”. While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ bought His people with His blood. 
 
The right response to redeeming love is obedience. Hosea directs Gomer to respond to redemption with the delight of obedience (3). Love draws us home, ending days of running away. Likewise, Paul commands, “You are not your own but you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God…” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
 
God’s covenant promises are greater than our rebellion. The people of God “will seek the Lord” (5) because, from love, God has sought us in the person and work of Jesus. God’s grace purchases God’s people to be His Bride. In Jesus Christ we are redeemed, reconciled, and can be restored. 
 
To be rooted and grounded in God’s love is to grow in obedience to God’s word, “love constraining to obedience.”
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the pursuing, redeeming, and transforming love of God modeled by Hosea’s living message?
 
-How has the fact that God has bought His people with His blood, Christ’s death for us to live, moved you not only from being a slave to a child but to see duty of obedience as delight?
 
-When it comes to obedience in your discipleship, why is it important for you to know God has pursued you in Christ and He continues to seek you still?
 
Key Verse
And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”