The unfaithful spouse imagery in Hosea’s book is common to the same type of betrayal that we read about among the major prophets (Jeremiah 3:1, Ezekiel 16:32). The prophets describe how the rejection of a marriage covenant in a person-to-person context makes more directly relatable the abandonment of the divine covenant between Yahweh and His people. His people have rejected Him; they are akin to a prostitute wife who leaves her husband. The comparison carries far less weight as a wife leaves her a husband compared to God and His people, but the betrayal is felt in a tangible and lasting way among people obligated to their covenant with God. The disloyalty felt brings substantial pain in both scenarios in a hurtful and memorable way.
Today, the message of Hosea reminds us of what a violation of a covenant oath looks like. It is a rupture of intimacy, both physically and spiritually, in the context of a marriage that does not honor exclusivity. Where in the Mosaic covenant, Yahweh explicitly forbids idolatry (Exodus 20:3), He informs His people that they were to have no other gods besides Him. If His people were to have and worship gods other than Him, that by definition is idolatry and is the same as adultery in a spiritual sense. Specifically, between Yahweh’s people and the other gods they worship or serve. Putting another god, or anything, above or before God Most High was the first commandment He gave to His people. Down through the centuries, it was also a commandment that His people often broke. With significant influence among neighboring nations and their own hearts, they participated in the behaviors that Yahweh sought to keep them from.
The principles given to us between Hosea and Gomer (husband and wife) offer insights into what people do spiritually to stray or outright reject God their creator. As Yahweh sought to maintain a fruitful relationship with His people Israel, He loved and cared for them in ways that speak to us today. Whereas, the “gods” of today are not ancient idols, figurines, or images that are worshiped and treasured; they are instead anything and everything that love and honor more than God. Examples include status, people, success, material objects, hobbies, or interests that occupy people’s hearts and desires beyond what He intended. It is where creation is worshiped, served, or held in higher esteem over the Creator, which is the modern equivalent to ancient idolatry, or spiritual adultery, that God forbids.
The God of the universe, who made everything, is rightfully and necessarily served and worshiped over anything and anything else. To not abide by our Lord Yahweh’s wishes in this is offensive to Him. Through our free agency, He entrusts us to seek, honor, and love Him. If we do not, we miss out on the blessings, or may even stand condemned while God does not delight in the destruction of the wicked who reject Him (Ezekiel 33:11). Yahweh is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who can become offended and hurt. So, as we learn of Him and trust Him, we must do all we can to remain faithful to Him as we set Him above anything and everything else. He is worthy of all glory and the source of life and healing we trust Him to provide.
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