The Hosea Love Story

This is a fitting follow-up to the previous post that highlighted the future restoration of Israel as described by the Bible's end times prophecies.

However, it goes so much deeper than that as we prayerfully consider the depths of our own depravity and God's relentless, redeeming love for us despite it all.

Thanks to Todd Friel and Wretched TV for this one today. Here's what he said during the introduction of a recent broadcast.

"If you would actually read the Book of Hosea, you would see the most glorious picture of God's covenantal love...even for you. What exactly is the Book of Hosea about? Well, it's a story about a man who is told by God to marry a woman named Gomer...there's one you don't hear every day...if you're looking for a name for a baby girl, Gomer is always available...This was a woman who was actually a prostitute, and God told Hosea to 'marry this woman', and He let Hosea know, 'you're going to love her, you're gonna get her all cleaned up, and guess what? She's gonna be unfaithful to you, and you -- you Hosea -- are going to be a picture. You're going to be a picture of Me, and Gomer is going to be a a picture of the nation of Israel', and dare I say you? How? Because God is pursuing a group of people to love, to cleanse, to hold up as His Bride, and how does that Bride behave? Sinfully, and wickedly, and unfaithfully. But how does God respond despite the behavior of His Bride? He continues to pursue! Why? Because God has an AMAZING covenantal love!"

Those beautiful words preceded the showing of an even more sobering video called 'The Hosea Love Story', which was produced by the Irving Bible Church.

The Covenant Love of God (Hosea 1 - 2:1)

In this modern day telling of the Book of Hosea, Hosea has entered into a covenant with Gomer just as God has entered into a covenant with His people, us. We have not merely broken God's law; we have broken God's heart. We have grieved Him. Despite all our spiritual adultery, we cannot exhaust the love of God and we deserve to be shown "No Mercy" and called "Not My People", but because Jesus was shown no mercy and was forsaken by the Father, we can rest secure in God's love for us. There is nothing in us that can evoke the love of God, and there is nothing in us that can exhaust the love of God.

Of course, the one verse from the opening section of Hosea that will probably be front-and-center as you watch this is obvious I think.

Hosea 1:2 (ESV) When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."

Now that the stage has been set, please take some time to watch the following video. Each part is only 3-4 minutes long, so that's a mere 18-24 minutes. Please make the time to watch this in one sitting. It's really that good and it doesn't hurt if we're all reminded of His unmerited grace.

The Hosea Love Story: Part One



The Hosea Love Story: Part Two

PART TWO: The Tough Love of God (Hosea 2:1-13). We are adulterers, running to other lovers. God allows us to chase the wind, however, He does not walk away from us. He does not abandon us. He is ready to welcome us home. There is nothing in us that can evoke the love of God, and there is nothing in us that can exhaust the love of God. He will wait for us to return.

The Hosea Love Story: Part Three

PART THREE: The Tender Love of God (Hosea 2:14-23). Hosea shows tender love to his adulterous wife. Amidst her wayward heart he awaits for Gomer to return, alluring her back to himself, and speaking tenderly. It is almost scandalous how much God continues to love us despite our adultery. He does not abandon us, He puts his arms around us, and longs for us to come home. Will we allow Him to forgive us when we've strayed?

The Hosea Love Story: Part Four

PART FOUR: The Redeeming Love of God (Hosea 3). Gomer is wrapped up in the depth of her brokenness, and Hosea knows what it will take to get her back. Redemptive Love goes in eyes open, knowing everything. God does not redeem us based on goodness, but in spite of our badness. He knows the worst about us, but redeems us anyways. He offers us our ring back, beckoning us to come to back to Him. Will we accept it?

The Hosea Love Story: Part Five

PART FIVE: The Love of God - Our Response (Hosea 6). Gomer is battling her past while all the while Hosea beacons her home. The regret of her past haunts her and the choice sits in front of her. Hosea knows exactly where she's been and what she's done, and still he wants her heart. Often times the fear of acknowledging the depth of our brokenness keeps us from repentance. However, God sits across from us as if saying, "I know where you've been, I know what you've done. Come to me". God is offering us a covenant, a ring to slip on our finger. He knows your story, He walked with you thru it, and still He wants you. Will we accept it?

The Hosea Love Story: Part Six

PART SIX: The Relentless Love of God (Hosea 14). Finally, Gomer has returned to Hosea. Sliding the ring back on her finger she has accepted his invitation to come back home and live back in the covenant she has made with him. Even though Hosea's love is unfailing for Gomer, he can not save her from the consequences she must experience for the sin she has lived in. In-spite of all this, his love is relentless. He loves her, holds her and will not walk away from her. Thinking of this story in modern day human terms, it is a very difficult story to embrace. Would we really ever be able to forgive someone who has caused that much hurt to themselves and to us? But God's love is beyond human love. It is relentless. God does not love us because of who we are or what we do, He loves us in-spite of it. One of the hardest parts of coming to God is accepting that His love covers all the brokenness we bring.

How chillingly beautiful was that?

You might find it interesting to note that the meaning of the name 'Hosea' is actually 'salvation', which fits with the overall message of this text quite perfectly, doesn't it?

By the way, the most often quoted verse from Hosea comes from chapter 4.

Hosea 4:6 (ESV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

No one who's reading this right now can ever say that they had a "lack of knowledge", but now you must prayerfully consider what you're going to do with this knowledge.

I don't know about you, but this video and the resulting Bible study is the kind of reminder that helps me to praise His name daily for the unmerited, free gift of grace and salvation given to me through His Son, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:8-9).

I pray it has the same impact on you.

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