Mysty PfefferWeek 2
Day 1
I will take you as my wife in faithfulness, and you will know Yahweh.”
Hosea 2:20
I wonder if the thought of “faithfulness” is why so many couples avoid marriage in our culture? Is infidelity in marriage part of the reason why people fear to fully commit? A culture steeped in the storylines of television would tell us so. Our favorite celebrities fail a this. Our friends do, and sometimes even our parents. Perhaps, a deep seeded insecurity lies in the hearts of people recovering from infidelity’s emotional pain.
Although, I can understand having little faith in marriage for these tender hearts, there is hope in changing such perspectives. The hope is the promise of our faithful God. He knows all about unfaithfulness. Our Lord witnesses it every single day. Surprisingly, He remains steadfast in His part of the commitment, wooing his ‘promiscuous’ wife back to Him. A display of such devotion shocks hearts wrought with lingering distrust.
God’s display of devotion unsettles the deep seeded complacent hearts fearing to invest emotionally. It makes them question their own failure to take the risk. Selfless acts subjecting Him to rejection or humiliation by God, is too great for these tender hearts. It’s safer to stay inside the boundaries of defense.
However, God’s example of unfailing love in the book of Hosea, tramples walls wounded hearts erect head on. I admire Hosea for facing the ridicule and contempt from other men, as he carries out on earth what God does in Heaven.
He loves unconditionally.
A look into the full love of God, painfully exposes humiliation’s insecurity. Which is the fear and pain of being subject to shame all over again. Faced with the brilliance of God’s continual pursuit of disgraceful people, in the metaphor of an adulterous spouse, the question arises:
“If it’s not too hard for the Sovereign God of the universe to humble Himself in such a way, who am I?
God’s command to his prophet, Hosea is this:
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” Hosea 3:1
Our study of scripture today takes place in Hosea. A story within a story. Hosea is told by God to marry a woman who is going to cheat on Him, several times. It is a parallel to the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s abandoning God to worship pagan gods.
Please read Hosea chapters 1-3 today to begin our second week of study on unwavering faith. Please note the metaphorical language used to describe a spouse’s infidelity. We see the pain, heartache, and lack of stability this behavior causes in the relationship. An exact replica of our own instability without God in our lives.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way!
Take heart! This book is a picture of His restoration! Restoring a marriage, a family, relationships, and a nation. That is just how powerful God moves through His word.
If, we open our hearts to His healing. I can’t wait to dig into this week’s study with you!
