Hosea 2:9-13
9 “Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time
And My new wine in its season.
I will also take away My wool and My flax
That I gave to cover her nakedness.
10 “So now I will uncover her lewdness
Before the eyes of her lovers,
And no one will rescue her from My hand.
11 “I will also put an end to all her joy,
Her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths,
And all her festivals.
12 “And I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
Of which she said, ‘They are my wages for prostitution
Which my lovers have given me.’
And I will turn them into a forest,
And the animals of the field will devour them.
13 “I will punish her for the days of the Baals
When she used to offer sacrifices to them
And adorn herself with her nose ring and jewelry,
And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me,” declares the Lord.
Adulterous Wife Punished
The background customs of that time
To understand the meaning of this passage, we must know the customs of that time regarding the punishment of an adulterous wife. Verse 3 has already stated the following: “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.” Stripping an adulterous wife naked and exposing her publicly was the method of punishing adultery in those days. This can be called punishment for the sake of punishment. However, when Yahweh (the Lord) punishes the people of Israel, it is to lead them to repentance. We must recognize this difference.
Wife stripped naked
To be “stripped naked” means that, for the people of Israel, the joy of harvest would be taken away. (1) The land of Israel will no longer produce grain or new wine. The land will be laid waste and become bare. (2) Wool and flax will also be taken away. Therefore, they will no longer be able to cover their nakedness. (3) The shame of the people of Israel will be exposed before the idols, but no idol will be able to save them. (4) The various festivals given by the Lord (the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Booths), the new moon festivals, the Sabbaths, and all the appointed feasts will be brought to an end. The reason is that the people of Israel misused the Lord’s festivals as opportunities for idolatry. (5) “Vines and fig trees” symbolize safety and prosperity. The people of Israel misunderstood these blessings as gifts received from their lovers (idols). Therefore, the Lord will take them away from the people of Israel and give them to the wild animals. The reason the people of Israel receive such punishment is “because she (the people of Israel) forgot Me (the Lord) and served Baal.” The Lord says that He will repay them for the days they ran after idolatry. However, as we confirmed at the beginning, the reason the Lord punishes the people of Israel is to lead them to repentance. In the passage we will study next time, it is prophesied that the Lord’s method succeeds, and the people of Israel are led to repentance. Paul writes in Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Repentance is indeed the best way to receive blessing from the Lord. Through repentance, we come to experience peace for our souls.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, You lead us to repentance through the Holy Spirit. May I receive peace for my soul today. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.