Hosea 8: Unbroken Love

​Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.2 To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” 3 Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. 5 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.  My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

6 For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it. 8 Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute.
 
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. 12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; jthey shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.
 
Meditation
God’s love is “Never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.” (Sally Lloyd Jones) Our rejection of God’s love will ruin us, but it is never the end of the story.  Jesus’ unbreakable love is ready to welcome us home to restore what has been broken.
 
Israel was self-deceived, crying, “My God, we know you!” (3) When in actuality their affections were misdirected to other gods for worship, other countries for security, and their own strength for well-being. God’s righteous anger cannot tolerate rebellion (5) and the right diagnosis was that “Israel has forgotten their Maker…” (14). Rebellion leads to ruin, but God’s “never giving up love” reveals our Maker is also our Redeemer (Isaiah 54:5) who stands ready to receive us when we return home to His love.
 
God’s love does not stop when our hearts go after other gods. God’s love does not give up when we look to other places for security. God’s love does not break when we break off in independence and self-sufficiency. God’s Covenant love does not give up on a people who have given up on Him. 
 
God reveals His love in this, that while we were His enemies, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8-10). The work of Christ reconciles believers to God and secures us in His covenant love where we know “Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:39) 
 
No matter where we are or what we have done, God’s sovereign grace invites us to “come to our senses” (Luke 15:17) and return home to His love.

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the descriptions of Israel’s rebellion?
 
-Where do you see the ruin that comes from our rebellion, both in the passage and in your life?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus give you ground to return home to the Father’s love, security to come to your senses, and strength to walk forward in faith? Be specific in an area of your life where this needs to be a reality.
 
Key Verse
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities…