Daily Devotional – Marriage of the Lamb

Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Hosea 2: 23. There is no clearer picture of Covenant than the one represented in the Book of Hosea. Hosea, or Hoshea in Hebrew, denotes salvation or deliverance. The Book of Hosea is the first Book of the Minor Prophets as they are called due to the brevity or pithiness of the books.

“I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called, ‘Not my Loved one. I will say to those called, ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God’“

The prophet who wrote Hosea, and whom the book is named after, was in public ministry to the northern kingdom of Israel from 748 BC to 690 BC, around the death of Hezekiah. During this time, Israel was experiencing great prosperity and growth, but the moral climate had declined into spiritual adultery and corruption.

God had a message and He wanted Hosea to bring it forth. It was a threefold, consistent message, which still rings true today;

• God abhors sin.
• Judgment is inevitable.
• God’s love and mercy are ever-present.

Hosea, through his marriage to an unfaithful wife, is a story and a message of relentless love.

 God’s unfailing love for His unfaithful people and the covenant He made, that He would be their God, was patterned throughout the Old Testament scriptures. God sought reconciliation, not destruction. His plan was to bring Israel back into the right relationship, and repentance was the key to doing so. Israel was steeped in the idolatry and wickedness, which brought God’s people into captivity and, if repentant, then restoration would surely follow.

God chose Hosea’s physical life and family to represent a spiritual picture of the state of His people.

 Hosea took the wife of “whoredom” and married Gomer, a prostitute, by a divine order of God. Israel is depicted prophetically as Jehovah’s adulterous wife, put away for a time and brought back into restoration, even after her unfaithfulness. Gomer bore three children and God Himself gave the names that were to be used. Found within the meaning of each of their names was a prophetic representation of the Word of the Lord to His people. Symbolically, each of the names conveyed a part of the prophetic message. For example, Jezreel meaning “God scatters or God sows,” was the name of the firstborn son. In the judgment, it pointed to the sin of Jehu for the abominations committed by his house. It also prophetically pointed forward to Israel’s future restoration. In II Kings 10:28-31 there was a massacre at Jezreel. Jehu wiped out Baal, however, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which was the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. God reminded the people of Israel of the dangers of idolatry, which is spiritual prostitution.

God loves His people and even disobedience does not revoke His love.

Even in the face of infidelity, God reminded His covenant people of His promise, as He continued in faithfulness to the covenant of love, which He held for His children. Prophetically, it was a promise of the incoming of the Gentiles. He was looking for a faithful Bride.

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord (Hos 2:19-20 NIV).

Unfaithfulness to God breaks fellowship. Man can be unfaithful, but God will not be.

 The marriage bond between God and the Israelites had been broken by unfaithfulness; reconciliation was sought, not divorce. Because of God’s Covenant, you and I, as believers are betrothed to God. We owe Him loyalty. We owe Him faithfulness. We owe Him unadulterated devotion and allegiance.

Are you faithful to God? Are there things in your life that you have put before God? Have you been loyal to Him? If not, ask Him to forgive you for your unfaithfulness. Ask Him to restore your fellowship with Him.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you still love me when I have fallen. Thank you that you still love me when I have been out of fellowship with you. Please forgive any idolatry in my heart. Please forgive my unfaithfulness and help me to walk in a way that pleases you. Help me to be steadfast to the very end.

In Jesus name
Amen

Robin Bertram is an author, speaker, ordained minister, and the executive producer and former host of the nationally and internationally syndicated television show, Freedom Today. She has been a leader of media leaders for 15 years and has placed several Christian programs onto the national and international stage. She is the author of No Regrets how loving deeply and living passionately can impact your legacy forever (Charisma House Publishing) and Hidden Treasures (Abingdon Press).