Key Verse: “I …will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” (Hosea 2:15 NIV)
14-15 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do:
I’m going to start all over again.
I’m taking her back out into the wilderness
where we had our first date, and I’ll court her.
I’ll give her bouquets of roses.
I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.
She’ll respond like she did as a young girl,
those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.
Reflection: (Hosea 2:14-15)
God was promising:
- to bring the people to the desert, a place free from distractions, so he could clearly communicate with them.
- to change what had been a time of trouble into a day of hope.
The Valley of Trouble is the site where Achan had sinned by keeping forbidden war plunder (See Joshua 7).
He had brought great disaster to Joshua’s troops when they were attempting to conquer the land.
God uses even our negative experiences to create opportunities to turn back to him.
As you face problems and trials, remember that God speaks to you in the “desert” and not just in times of prosperity.
16-20 “At that time”—this is God’s Message still—
“you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’
Never again will you address me,
‘My slave-master!’
I’ll wash your mouth out with soap,
get rid of all the dirty false-god names,
not so much as a whisper of those names again.
At the same time I’ll make a peace treaty between you
and wild animals and birds and reptiles,
And get rid of all weapons of war.
Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies!
And then I’ll marry you for good—forever!
I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.
Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go.
You’ll know me, God, for who I really am.
Reflection: (Hosea 2:16)
Not until Judah’s exile would the entire nation begin to come to its senses, give up its idols, and turn back to God; and not until that day when God rules through Jesus the Messiah will the relationship between God and His people be restored.
In that day, God will no longer be like a master to them; He will be like a husband (Isaiah).
The relationship will be deep and personal, the kind of relationship we can know, though imperfectly, in marriage.
Reflection: (Hosea 2:19-20)
The time will come when unfaithfulness will be impossible.
God will bind us to himself in His perfect righteousness, justice, love, compassion, and faithfulness.
God was promising a fresh new beginning, not just a temporary rewriting of a tired old covenant (See Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Reflection: (Hosea 2:19-20)
God’s wedding gift to His people, both in Hosea’s day and in our own, in His compassion.
Though no merit of our own, God forgives us and makes us right with Him.
There is no way for us by our own efforts to reach God’s high standards, but He graciously respects us, forgives us, and draws us into a relationship with Himself.
In that relationship we have personal and intimate communicate with Him.
21-23 “On the very same day, I’ll answer”—this is God’s Message—
“I’ll answer the sky, sky will answer earth,
Earth will answer grain and wine and olive oil,
and they’ll all answer Jezreel.
I’ll plant her in the good earth.
I’ll have mercy on No-Mercy.
I’ll say to Nobody, ‘You’re my dear Somebody,’
and he’ll say ‘You’re my God!’”