Hosea 2:1-23

     Hosea 2:1 continues the promised blessing begun in 1:10-11. Then, in Hosea 2:2-13, God describes Israel’s unfaithfulness to her covenant relationship with God and the punishment He would bring on her. Israel is called to put away her unfaithfulness (Hos. 2:2), or God will humiliate her (Hos. 2:3-4). Israel wrongly assumed her prosperity had come from Baal (Hos. 2:5), but God would cut off her resources (Hos. 2:6), and though Israel will continue in familiar paths of idolatry for a while, she will eventually seek the Lord (Hos. 2:7). God reveals it was He Who provided blessing, but Israel took what was given and gave it to Baal (Hos. 2:8). God promises to remove His provisions, humiliate Israel, and bring her festivities to an end (Hos. 2:9-13). Afterwards, the Lord will allure Israel back to Himself “and speak kindly to her” (Hos. 2:14). He will provide blessing, like that which was given at the beginning of their relationship (Hos. 2:15), and the language of mutual love will be renewed (Hos. 2:16), and the names of foreign lovers will not be mentioned again (Hos. 2:17). God promises to provide blessing to His people, which includes no more hostility and war (Hos. 2:18). Then using language of renewed marital vows, God declares, “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD” (Hos. 2:19-20). God will then bring agricultural prosperity upon His bride, providing nourishment and pleasure (Hos. 2:21-22). The Lord concludes, “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, and I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ and they will say, ‘You are my God!’” (Hos. 2:23). There are times when God’s people are unfaithful to Him and turn to other sources for things only He can provide. When this happens, the Lord will cut off our supply and bring us to the place of humility, where we have no place to look but to Him; then, when humility comes, He restores our walk with Him, which includes His blessings.