SCRIPTURE: HOSEA 2
ISRAEL PUNISHED AND RESTORED
PUNISHMENTS OF GOD TO ISRAEL:
- I will strip her naked and make her as bare as on the day she was born. (v. 3a)
- I will make her like a desert, turn her into a parched land and slay her with thirst. (v. 3b)
- I will not show my love to her children because they are the children of adultery. (v. 4)
- I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. (v. 6)
- I will take away my grain when it ripens and my new wine when it is ready. (v. 9a)
- I will take back my wool and my linen intended to cover her nakedness. (v. 9b)
- I will expose her lewdness before the eyes of her lovers; no one will take her out of my hands. (v. 10)
- I will stop all her celebrations and all her appointed feasts. (v. 11)
- I will ruin her vines and her fig tress. (v. 12a)
- I will make their harvest a thicket and wild animals will devour them. (v. 12b)
- I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals. (v. 1)
GOD’S RESTORATION OF ISRAEL:
- I am going to allure and lead her into the desert. Then I will speak tenderly to her. (v. 14)
- I will give her back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. (v. 15)
- I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips. (v. 17)
- I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and all the creatures that move along the ground. (v. 18a)
- I will abolish bow and sword and battle from the land. (v. 18b)
- I will betroth you to me forever in righteousness, justice, love and compassion. (v. 19)
- I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord. (v. 20)
THOUGHTS:
FOUR DECLARATIONS OF GOD TO THE ISRAELITES:
- I will show no mercy to you.
- I will punished by taking away my blessings.
- I will reclaim and restore you one day.
- I will love and bless you again.
Hosea had given Gomer all she owned just as God had given Israel all the blessings. Both Gomer and Israel used their possessions irresponsibly as they ran after other lovers and other gods. How did you use your resources that God has given you? Do you use it to honor him or grieve Him?
God’s wedding gift to his people both in Hosea’s day and now is his compassion. We can never reach God’s standards without his forgiveness. He wants us to have a personal relationship and intimate communion with Him. Do you have a daily devotional time with Him through prayer and reading His Word?