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Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5
The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
Reflection
Our passage opens with a striking command from God to Hosea: “Go, show your love to your wife again.” This isn’t just a suggestion or a nice idea—it’s a divine imperative. Let’s unpack the profound implications of this phrase:
- Active Love: The command to “go” emphasizes that love is not passive. It’s not merely a feeling or an abstract concept. True love, as God defines it, requires action. Hosea is called to physically go to his wife, to move towards her despite her infidelity.
- Intentional Love: “Show your love” implies deliberate, visible demonstrations of affection. Hosea isn’t told to simply forgive in his heart, but to manifest his love in tangible ways. This mirrors God’s own love for us—not just declared, but demonstrated through actions, ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Recurring Love: The word “again” is crucial. This isn’t the first time Hosea has shown love to his wife. Love, in God’s economy, is persistent and recurring. It doesn’t give up after one attempt or grow weary after repeated betrayals.
- Counterintuitive Love: Hosea is told to love his wife “though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.” This goes against human instinct and societal norms. It’s a love that doesn’t make sense by worldly standards—much like God’s love for us.
- Reflective Love: Hosea’s actions are meant to reflect God’s love for Israel. As Hosea goes to show love to his unfaithful wife, he embodies God’s relentless pursuit of His wayward people.
This command sets the stage for the rest of the passage. Hosea’s obedience leads him to buy back his wife, echoing God’s redemptive action for His people. The phrase “for many days” indicates that this love is not a one-time event but an ongoing commitment. It suggests a period of restoration and purification, both in Hosea’s marriage and in Israel’s relationship with God.
God’s love, as demonstrated through Hosea, is active, intentional, persistent, counterintuitive, and reflective of His character. It’s a love that goes, that shows, that acts—even when the recipient seems undeserving. This is the love that God has for each of us, a love that He calls us to embody in our relationships with others.
Application
- Act on Your Love: Where in your life is God calling you to “go, show your love”? Is there a relationship that needs rekindling or a person who needs to see God’s love through your actions?
- Love Against the Odds: Reflect on times when God has loved you despite your unfaithfulness. How can you extend this kind of counterintuitive love to others in your life?
- Persist in Love: Are there areas where you’ve grown weary of showing love? Remember that God calls us to love “again.” Ask for His strength to persist in love.
- Demonstrate Love Tangibly: How can you show your love for God and others in visible, tangible ways this week?
- Reflect God’s Love: Consider how your actions of love might be a reflection of God’s love to those around you. How can you be more intentional about this?
- Embrace the Process: Recognizing that God often works over “many days,” how can you cultivate patience and trust in your spiritual journey and in your relationships?
How can you show tangible love to someone this week?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are humbled and awed by Your command to “go, show your love.” Thank You for not merely telling us about Your love, but demonstrating it through Your actions, ultimately through sending Your Son for us. Give us the courage to love actively and intentionally, even when it’s difficult. Help us to persist in love, to show it tangibly, and to reflect Your love to a world in need. May we be patient in the process of restoration, trusting that Your love never fails. Empower us to go where You send us and to show love as You have loved us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.