Betrothed Forever - Hosea 2:19

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of the nation of Israel, “I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely”, and in chapter two and verse nineteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “and I will betroth you unto me for ever” where we read,

And I will betroth you unto me for ever;

yes, I will betroth you unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,

and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

The verse begins, “And I will betroth you unto me for ever; ...” Hosea began with the words, “and I will betroth you” or “and I, Hosea and Jehovah God, shall engage for matrimony you, Gomer and the nation of Israel” “unto me for ever”which means “to me, Hosea and Jehovah God, for long duration, unto futurity, perpetually, everlasting and evermore”. Hosea shared how he and Jehovah God would engage themselves in matrimony to Gomer and the nation of Israel unto futurity. 

The verse goes on to say, “... yes, I will betroth you unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, ...” Hosea continued with the words, “yes, I will betroth you unto me” or “even so, also and indeed I, Jehovah God, shall engage in matrimony to you, Gomer and the nation of Israel, to me, Hosea and Jehovah God” “in righteousness” which means “within rightness and justness”, “and in judgment” or “and within justice, ordinance, right and the act of deciding a case”. Hosea shared how he and Jehovah God would engage in matrimony Gomer and the nation of Israel within a just, right, correct and lawful manner. 

Finally the verse says, “... and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “and in lovingkindness” which means “and within kindness, faithfulness and favor”, “and in mercies” or “and within bowels of tender love and pity”. Hosea shared how he and Jehovah God would also engage in matrimony with Gomer and the nation of Israel with kindness, tender love and pity. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea and Jehovah God would re-engage their “spouses” eternally in a just, right, correct and lawful way. They would have tender love and pity upon their unfaithful wives even through they did not deserve it. God gives people second, third, fourth and more chances to return to a relationship with Him, and because He loves everyone, regardless of how far they are away from Him, when they believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and bring them back into fellowship with Him over and over again until we live with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

Next time Hosea says, “I will even betroth you unto me in faithfulness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".