Hosea

The last couple of days I've been reading Hosea, which I've never really done before beyond looking up a Scripture here or there. I have to tell you that I've been struck with how God just pours His heart out to us.

I've been told before that Hosea is a picture of Christ because of the way he went to bring his unfaithful wife back home.   Chapter 3 is only five verses long, but I think it is one of the most passionate and heartfelt passages in the whole Bible.

Then the LORD said to me, "Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover.  This will illustrate that the LORD still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them."  So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.  Then I said to her, "You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me."  This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests, or even idols!  But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the LORD their God and to David's descendant, their king.  In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the LORD and of his goodness.

He bought her back.  She was so precious to him that it didn't matter where she had been or what she had been doing, he would do anything to get her back.  He loved her that much.  Just as Christ loved us.

Another passage that struck me was in chapter 6:4-7:

"O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?" asks the LORD. "For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight.  I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces— to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light.  I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.  But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust."

God craves relationship with us, much more than anything we can do to make ourselves right before Him.  This is the why of His grace and mercy.

Below I have a link to a song by Andrew Peterson that kind of prompted me to read Hosea.  I think it's a beautiful song.  Have a listen:

"Hosea" by Andrew Peterson on his album The Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2

Preparation

Last year I had already gone through so many changes in my life, given up some things, and surrendered even more, that I didn't feel that I was in a place to celebrate the Season of Lent.

This year I found myself being drawn to the thought of spending time with God...intentionally.  By this, I mean beyond my regular devotion time.  There's some stuff I've got to get through, and it's something that only God can break through.  So I'm doing it.

For me, I won't actually be taking anything out of my life - no sugar fast, or caffeine fast, or television, or books, or Facebook, or anything like that.  I will be adding to my life.  In the natural course of it, there will be some things I will have to let go of for a time to make room for what I am adding, but that's ok.  It will help me keep my focus.

Christ was in the desert for 40 days, without eating or drinking - simply praying and preparing.  This is my desert time, and this is part of my preparation.

Just so you know...

I have been updating my blog a post at a time for the last several weeks.  I have a pattern where I revive my blog then leave it for months at a time.  Here at the Program I've been keeping a physical journal, and while I'm still not consistent, I do put the important things in it.  That being said (er...written), I am trying to transfer what I've written in my journal onto my blog.  I'm a little behind, so there may be posts that pop up from "the past" that you haven't seen before. 

Just so you know. ;)