Hosea 2:2-5
2 “Dispute with your mother, dispute,
Because she is not my wife, and I am not her husband;
But she must remove her infidelity from her face
And her adultery from between her breasts,
3 Otherwise, I will strip her naked
And expose her as on the day she was born.
I will also make her like a wilderness,
Make her like desert land,
And put her to death with thirst.
4 “Also, I will take no pity on her children,
Because they are children of infidelity.
5 “For their mother has committed prostitution;
She who conceived them has acted shamefully.
For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,
Who give me my bread and my water,
My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’
Application for Israel
Israel, the wife of Yahweh (the Lord)
Hosea, based on his own experience of marriage, speaks God’s revelation to the people of Israel. It becomes a message of accusation against the wife who “pursues her lovers” (v 5). Here, let us consider the relationship between Yahweh (the Lord) and the people of Israel in chronological order (Israel is the wife of Yahweh). (1) God entered into a marriage relationship with Israel. In other words, He entered into a covenant relationship with Israel (the bool of Deuteronomy is the documentation of that covenant). (2) However, Israel committed the sin of adultery. This refers to the sin of idolatry. (3) Therefore, God entered into a state of separation from Israel (Isa. 50:1 expresses this well). (4) And finally, God divorced Israel (the book of Jeremiah is the divorce certificate issued from God to Israel). (5) Because of the sin of adultery (the sin of idolatry), judgment came upon the people of Israel. This condition continues even to the present. (6) In the future, the time will come when Israel will be cleansed from sin, and God will remarry Israel. When we keep these six stages in mind as we read the Bible, we gain a clearer understanding of Israel’s place within Scripture. The book of Hosea does not address all six stages, but it does touch on several of them.
State of separation
In today’s passage, the content shows that God and Israel have entered a state of separation. (1) God declares, “For she is not my wife, and I am not her husband.” The reason lies in the adultery of the wife. The command, “But she must remove her infidelity… and her adultery,” means “remove idolatry.” (2) If they continue in idolatry, the people of Israel will become “Lo-ammi” (not My people). Stripping the wife of her garments and casting her out was a customary act showing that she was a woman of adultery. (3) Furthermore, the people of Israel will become “Lo-ruhamah” (a child not loved). Specifically, this means that the land of Israel will be laid waste and become like a desert. (4) Israel, the wife of Yahweh, was under a great misunderstanding. Israel boasted, “I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.” The “lovers” refer to idols. As we observe the failures of the people of Israel, let us examine ourselves to see whether we too are under any misunderstanding. From where do the blessings we receive truly come? Let us remember the love and mercy of God the Father and give thanks for the blessing of being made His children.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, all that I am today is because of Your grace. You alone are my God. I place my trust in You alone. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.