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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Hosea 2:18-23; ; Hosea 3:1-5
In his own particular abrupt style, the prophet alternates, with no transition, between the description of Israel’s tragic state and promises of restoration (vv. 18-23). God’s grace will establish new links with His people. They will no longer be slaves, like this wife, whom Hosea bought back (Hosea 3:2); they will no longer say "my master", but "my husband" (Hosea 2:16). "I will betroth thee unto me", the LORD repeats three times so as to seal His engagement (vv. 19, 20). Like the ring on the finger of a young fiancée, this promise should have spoken to the heart of the poor people, to persuade them jealously to keep their affection for the LORD (cf. Jeremiah 2:2). Similarly, we think of the Church which should be entirely for Christ; "I have espoused you to one husband," says Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:2); he also unfolds in Ephesians 5:25-27 what the Lord Jesus has done, what He is doing and what He will do for the Church.
The short prophecy of ch. 3 describes in a striking way the actual condition of the children of Israel: they now have neither a king nor worship (whether of idols or of the LORD, v. 4). Israel’s house is empty, swept and garnished, ready for the fulfilment of Matthew 12:45. But afterwards will come their repentance and their re-establishment in divine blessing by the LORD’s goodness (v. 5).
