Hosea 1-6

“I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one’” (2:23). Hosea was called to marry an adulterous woman as a demonstration of God’s enduring, redeeming love. Israel had become unfaithful to the God who had rescued them out of Egypt and given them everything. Many turned to idolatry, and religious leaders led the way in wickedness: “bands of priests” murdered people on the road (6:9). Hosea declared that Israel had “exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful” (4:7). But God’s redeeming love had not changed.

Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, and ours, God comes to rescue us and bring us home. “I will betroth you to me forever … inrighteousness and justice, inlove and compassion” (2:19).