Isaiah 12:1-6
Isaiah 17:1-14
2 Chronicles 28:16-21
2 Kings 16:10-18
2 Chronicles 28:22-25
2 Kings 18:1-8
2 Chronicles 29:1,2
2 Kings 15:30,31
2 Kings 17:1-4
Hosea 1:1-2:13
Of all the nations He could have selected to be His own, the Lord
chose Israel. Once a nation bound by chains, He set her free. Once a slave
without purpose, He gave her hope and new life, by making her the object of His
affection. He provided for her every need, He protected her from all her enemies,
and He offered her everything she desired. What more could He do to demonstrate
His love for one who had never known love like this before?
How did Israel repay Him? She pushed away from His arms, she scorned
His words, she despised His attention, she took for granted His provision, she
sought out other options, and she eventually gave herself to other lovers.
Despite all that the Lord had done for her, Israel proved to be an unfaithful
and adulterous wife.
Take King Ahaz of Israel, for example, who went to Damascus to meet
with the king of Assyria. “While he was there, he noticed an unusual altar. So
he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full
detail. Uriah built an altar just like it by following the king’s instructions,
and it was ready for the king when he returned from Damascus. When the king re-
turned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it...” (2 Kings 16:10-13).
To demonstrate His displeasure with Israel’s adulterous behavior,
having run to the arms and affection of other gods, the Lord asked the prophet
Hosea to marry a harlot named Gomer. Like Hosea, the Lord had been a faithful
husband, and like Gomer, Israel had played the prostitute with other lovers. As
any good husband would be, the Lord was jealous for His bride and grieved over
her infidelity.
However, the Lord had enough of Israel’s harlot- ry. He was ready to
punish her. “I will call Israel to account, for she is no longer my wife, and I
am no longer her husband. Tell her to take off her garish makeup and suggestive
clothing and to stop playing the prostitute... For she has said, ‘I will run
after other lovers and sell myself to them...’ But I will leave her to die of thirst,
as in a desert...” (Hosea 2:2-5).
Daily Reflection
Before we condemn Israel for her unfaithfulness to the Lord, you and I
must look in the mirror and carefully examine ourselves. Can we
say, with a clear conscience, that we have never “cheated” on our God? He has pursued us
with His love, yet we are quick to leave Him for the worldly temptations that
come our way?
What temptations have caused you to pull away from the Lord, even
leave Him for a while?
All of us must admit that, at some level, we have committed
adultery, spiritual adultery, and have fallen “head over heels” for other
loves. All
of us have sacrificed time and money and attention to express passion for idols
and false gods, all to the detriment of our relationship with God.
Describe how these acts are hurtful to God. What should He do to get
your attention?
Confess to your Gomerish ways. Do not return the Lord’s love with
spiritual adultery.
BiAY.org | Day 176 — 189 Days to Go
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