The King of All Nations offers healing and forgiveness, even to a nation that prostitutes itself. Read the whole story of Hosea and Gomer to understand this.
Word: Hosea 2: 14-23 (abridged)(NLT)
“But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her there.
15 I will return her vineyards to her
and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.
16 When that day comes,” says the Lord,
“you will call me ‘my husband’
instead of ‘my master.’
18 On that day I will make a covenant
with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky
and the animals that scurry along the ground
so they will not harm you.
I will remove all weapons of war from the land,
all swords and bows,
so you can live unafraid
in peace and safety.
19 I will make you my wife forever,
showing you righteousness and justice,
unfailing love and compassion.
20 I will be faithful to you and make you mine,
and you will finally know me as the Lord.
21 “In that day, I will answer,”
says the Lord.
“I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds.
And the sky will answer the earth with rain.
22 Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’
I will show love
to those I called ‘Not loved.’
And to those I called ‘Not my people,’
I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’
And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”
What is worse than adultery? The story of Hosea the prophet and his wife Gomer is a biblical story that goes beyond the pain of adultery and describes a person who abandons her marriage, turning not to another lover, but to prostitution. One of the biggest questions raised in this story is whether the pain and shame of this betrayal can ever be healed? And why would anyone want to see such a devastating breach healed?
Nations prostitute themselves, selling their relationship to the King of All Nations very cheaply. But these verses describe a King that will forgive the worst we can do. His desire is not just forgiveness, however, but restoration and reconciliation. As fiercely as His anger is when a nation prostrates itself before other gods, His loving kindness is even greater when that prostituted nation comes home. That is what makes coming home even thinkable!
Prayer: Lord of All, your anger is just, but terrible–deserved, but more than we can bear. Take away our national desires that lure us to other powers, other houses. Draw our nation back to your house, our home, with these same promises of forgiveness and reconciliation that you have offered to other nations in times past. Amen.
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