My thoughts have been marinating in this writing by the prophet Hosea whose understanding of God is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible:
And I will make you my bride forever. I will make you my bride with goodness and justice and with love and mercy. I will make you my faithful bride. Then you will really know the Lord. (from Hosea, chapter 2)
Hosea has been reminding the children of Israel of how fickle and even mean and unfaithful they have been and God says He demands better. He says so in some pretty harsh language but this is the amazing thing. God tells us how God is going to deal with us: "I am going to love you so tenderly that you will long to let me heal this breach between us: I will be who I am no matter your unfaithfulness to me.
I will treat you according to my covenant with Adam and Eve and every child born since the day they were created. I will show you goodness, sending opportunities for you to learn to trust me. I will be just with you, never punishing you because of My disappointments in your behavior, but rather always seeking ways to help you heal from your own choices.
I will love you unconditionally at all times and in all places, even when your behavior and the damage I know it is doing to you is breaking My heart because I love you so dearly. I will ever show you mercy, being attentive to your prayers, both prayers to me and the prayers that live deeply in your heart. I will offer you utter love and forgiveness and healing and hope and purpose as you make room for these blessings in our relationship. And, because I know all things, I know that my wooing of you will open your heart so that you can know that these things are true and that you are wholly worthy of all good things."
WOW...just wow.
And I will make you my bride forever. I will make you my bride with goodness and justice and with love and mercy. I will make you my faithful bride. Then you will really know the Lord. (from Hosea, chapter 2)
Hosea has been reminding the children of Israel of how fickle and even mean and unfaithful they have been and God says He demands better. He says so in some pretty harsh language but this is the amazing thing. God tells us how God is going to deal with us: "I am going to love you so tenderly that you will long to let me heal this breach between us: I will be who I am no matter your unfaithfulness to me.
I will treat you according to my covenant with Adam and Eve and every child born since the day they were created. I will show you goodness, sending opportunities for you to learn to trust me. I will be just with you, never punishing you because of My disappointments in your behavior, but rather always seeking ways to help you heal from your own choices.
I will love you unconditionally at all times and in all places, even when your behavior and the damage I know it is doing to you is breaking My heart because I love you so dearly. I will ever show you mercy, being attentive to your prayers, both prayers to me and the prayers that live deeply in your heart. I will offer you utter love and forgiveness and healing and hope and purpose as you make room for these blessings in our relationship. And, because I know all things, I know that my wooing of you will open your heart so that you can know that these things are true and that you are wholly worthy of all good things."
WOW...just wow.
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