Oct 30th

2 Kings 12     Hosea 3-4     2 Timothy 2     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)
Hosea 3-4

The narrative of Hosea is swift. By the end of chapter 3, the narrative shifts from Hosea’s personal life to the specific case of Israel, and the nation’s charge of unfaithfulness. Hosea 1-3, however, operates as a precursor of salvation and Hosea’s name in fact means ‘salvation’.

Chapter 3 explores the reconciliation between husband and wife, and truthfully it began in chapter 2 when the husband sought to ‘allure’ her back. God makes the first move with us (1 John 4:19). God commands Hosea to live with his wife, and so reconciliation with God quite literally looks like living with Him. When we turn to God, do we want to ‘move in’ with Him? As Jesus says in John 14:3, ‘in my Father’s house there are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you’. How exciting! The God who betroths us to Himself forever, in love, compassion, righteousness…wants us to move in with Him, and He is getting our home ready! We really have very little to do except love Him, and when we know Him, He is not hard to love. Theologically speaking, salvation is dependent upon God inviting us back. We have no right to demand anything from the One we have betrayed, but He loves us too much to let us go.

Chapter 4 begins to explore the charges against Israel specifically. Verse 6 is particularly noticeable, as God says ‘I will destroy your mother’. Given our understanding of Hosea 1, we can interpret this verse as meaning God is rooting-out the rotten part of our being that produces sin (ie: the offspring of this mother). Chapter 4 continues to warn Israel against the infectiousness of sin, and we must not cause others to stumble (Matt. 18:6). God makes no distinction between priest, prophets, kings, and the every-day idolater. Hosea 4 is actually highlighting this lack of distinction. Do we sometimes think our sin is ‘less bad’ because of our worldly identity, because of our position in church or work, or because we have been given certain spiritual gifts? The end of Chapter 4 returns to the image of relationship – are we living with God? Have we really ‘moved in’ with Him, or are we only stopping over at weekends, or when we’re having fun? We are the first and last thought in God’s mind – is He in ours?

(member of the congregation)