God has called Hosea to warn Israel both verbally and visually. Hosea was called
to marry a wife of whoredom and to have children of whoredom as an expression
of God’s judgment. But the chapter concludes with a word of hope.
Pray and Read Hosea 1:10-2:1.
Remember 2020? Murder hornets. Firenadoes. Killer asteroids. Millions of
Cicadas. And there was one other thing…Every week brought another warning.
Eventually we stopped reacting. We just shrugged and said, “What’s next?”
Israel had done the same thing. Hosea had been warning them for years. God’s
judgments became background noise.
Instead of repentance, we imagine their impatient indifference. After 7 years,
they just thought Hosea was the crazy neighbor.
Yet after all those warnings, God suddenly speaks words of astonishing hope. The
very same words that brought judgment (Hos 1:2-9) upon Israel are turned into
reminders of God’s covenant promises.
The abrupt reversal feels too jarring for many. They suggest an editor—apparently,
a really bad one…In truth, this is all consistent with God’s character. He is eager to
forgive.
By giving this assurance here, Hosea introduces the theme that we should keep in
mind—especially when we’re reading page after page of judgment (Hos 4-14).
We struggle to believe that God remains faithful after we have been unfaithful.
God’s covenant faithfulness triumphs over our covenant unfaithfulness.
You Have Been Adopted (1:10)
Hosea combines the imagery of marriage and family. Gomer’s unfaithfulness
reveals Israel’s spiritual condition, while God’s promise of adoption reveals His
covenant faithfulness.
Verse 10 echoes God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would be
beyond number (Gen. 13:16; 15:5; 22:17). At this point, however, tiny Israel stood
in the shadow of the mighty Assyrian Empire.
The promise of an immeasurable number of children is linked to Lo-Ammi (child 3, “Not My People”). The name is simply reversed in Hosea 2:1, 23 (Ammi), buthere a fuller title is giving: “Children of the living God.” “Living God” contrasts with
the false gods/dead idols the nation was worshiping (Ps 115).
The apostles applied this promise to the new covenant community—consisting of
Jews and Gentiles (Rom 9:25-27; 2 Cor 6:18; 1 Pt 2:9-10). The promise was
originally intended to bless “all the families of the earth” (Gen 12:3). The whole
Church—with members from every tribe, tongue, language, and people—was in
God’s mind when he planned the covenant of grace!
In this verse, God responds to 200 years of rebellion with a promise of adoption.
Instead of their typical indifference, Israel should have been overwhelmed with
joy.
It’s often touching to watch an adoption ceremony of an older child. Many have
experienced the hardships of a broken family and an overburdened foster care
system. They know the feeling of rejection more keenly than most of us. I’m sure
some hesitate to get too excited, because they’re so familiar with tribulation.
But, Israel’s situation was much worse. God’s announcement of adoption in this
verse should have landed with a deep conviction of sin and a grateful readiness
to live for him.
Hosea’s audience did not respond with true faith and repentance. Rather, they
mocked him as foolish and insane (Hos 9:7-9). Although they knew they were
guilty of serious sin, the nation’s prosperity had clouded their sense of shame.
Despite the nation’s spiritual condition, God preserved a remnant who trusted in
the coming Messiah. Not much had changed when Jesus entered into humanity.
Religious indifference and hypocrisy were just as prevalent. Yet, Jesus’s arrival
revealed God’s faithfulness.
How have you responded to the news of your adoption? Are you overwhelmed
with joy or does it sound foolish and insane? Are you skeptical or grateful? Would
God really choose someone like me?
If you appreciate the fact of your adoption, share that with God in prayers of
thanksgiving. It’s when you lose sight of your privileged status—as Children of the
living God—that your assurance wanes and you begin to look elsewhere for
acceptance.
› Every adoption creates a family. God never adopts only individuals; He gathers a
people. That’s exactly what verse 11 promises.
You Are Being Gathered Together (1:11)
Israel and Judah had been divided for two centuries, so this promise first pointed
to their reunification. That hope began to be realized under Hezekiah and was
reflected after the exile when Ezra offered sacrifices on behalf of “all Israel.” Yet
those events were only partial fulfillments.
“Day of Jezreel” cf. Hos 2:23. Instead of God scatters, the meaning there is God
sows (i.e., scatter seed). On that day, Judah and Israel will “go up from the land”—
as a plant grows up from the earth (Hos 10:8; Deut 29:23).
However, their return from exile was not a full restoration, as the older returnees
mournfully expressed (Ezra 3:12-13). The restored temple paled in comparison to
the glory of Solomon’s original. But the prophets prophesied of something far
greater occuring under a new covenant (Jer 31).
The fullness of this promise is inaugurated upon Christ’s first coming. He
established the new covenant community, which gathered Jews and Gentiles as
“the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16) under “One head.” This is none other than Jesus
Christ, whom the high priest, Caiaphas, prophesied “would die for the nation, and
not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are
scattered abroad” (John 11:51-52).
In Prizing Public Worship David Clarkson explains Psalm 87:2 “the Lord loves
the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.”
The gates of Zion refers to the temple. It represents the location where public
worship took place—where the whole assembly gathered—bringing their
offerings, sacrifices, and tithes. But worship also took place in the dwellings of
Jacob. Family and private worship happened in homes throughout Israel.
Clarkson concludes that God delights especially in the gathered worship of His
people.
It’s like the difference between a private wedding proposal and a public wedding
ceremony. Both commitments are important and meaningful, but which one do
parents and grandparents appreciate more?
God has gathered all Israel (“the Israel of God,” Gal 6:16) under her “one head”—
the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18). His resurrection is the firstfruits of the
reward enjoyed by all his elect. That is cause to continue to gather together in
celebration and anticipation of the great day of Jezreel—when Jesus returns with
the Church triumphant!
Gathering together for corporate worship is the ongoing fulfillment of this
promise! Isaiah speaks of calling the Sabbath a delight (Isa 58:13-14). The
reward of prioritizing gathered worship is rich spiritual joy! The covenantal
blessings are applied to you as you participate throughout the worship service.
Maybe you still wonder whether you belong here. Remember, your worth is not
inherent but given by God. What did it cost Him to gather you?
Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the
blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the
curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house
of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
› God reminds you each Lord’s Day…
You Will Always Be Loved (2:1)
Peter applies the promise directly to the Church:
1 Peter 2:10 ESV
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Hosea may not have seen this connection, but God intended it from the start.
What’s clear is that their salvation is one of grace. They did not earn God’s favor—
they did nothing but receive it.
This section is filled with covenant language—and it’s meant to be shared with one
another. There is a sense in which we do this as we “address one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph 5:19). Our singing to the Lord
reminds one another of his covenant promises. But, it is also meant to fill our
conversation before and after the service, and throughout the week.
We’ve talked about the importance of praising God for our adoption, and the
priority of gathering together in unified worship. Only when we do that can we fulfill
the imperative of Hos 2:1! When we gather together we should hear these
promises from God and one another.
Imagine walking into church burdened by your failures from the week. Before you
even hear the sermon, someone reminds you, “God has shown us mercy.” Later
on you sing, “Jesus paid it all.” Then the sermon you that you belong to Christ.
Week after week God restores weary sinners by surrounding them with His
covenant promises.
Some churches formalize this by “passing the peace.” I’ve never been especially
fond of the practice, but if we aren’t regularly reminding one another, “You are
God’s people” and “You have received mercy,” perhaps we should reconsider.
This is how we stir up one another to love and good works! These are the
reminders our fickle hearts need (Heb 10:24-25):
- You Have Been Adopted!
- You Are Being Gathered Together!
- You Will Always Be Loved!
Conclusion
The gospel ensures that our sin does not have the final word.
Sin says, “You don’t belong.”
God says, “You are my child.”
Sin says, “You’re scattered and alone.”
God says, “I’ve gathered you under Christ.”
Sin says, “You deserve rejection.”
God says, “You have received mercy.”
That is the rhythm of worship in a fallen world. It makes us long for the day
when sin is silenced forever and all we hear is, “Well done, my good and faithful
servant…enter into the joy of your master,” (Mt 25:21).