God desires an intimate relationship with His people. He is not content that we have a mere academic understanding of Him, nor that we name Him without loving Him. So unique is this relationship desired by God that He likens it to a marriage. What a wonder this is! God intends to be known and loved by His people the way a wife knows and loves her husband. "Who is wise? Let him understand these things." Though God desires to be loved exclusively, His people so often are spiritually adulterous – giving themselves to lesser loves. Judgment awaits the wayward, but God graciously offers to receive even a serially sinful bride. He invites us to acknowledge and confess our disloyalty to Him and embrace by faith His promises freely given in Jesus Christ. Such are God's merciful ways. "Who is prudent? Let him know them." To be restored to God in Christ is to be enabled to live for Him, willingly and gladly, enlivened by the Spirit to journey in godliness through a world dark in its rebellion. "For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them," Hosea 14:9 (NKJV). This Sunday, we'll finish our study of Hosea's prophecy with a look at the last verse of the last chapter and consider, "God's Loyal Love: Who is Wise?"
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Steve Massey is the pastor of Hayden Bible Church of Hayden, Idaho. He also writes about matters of faith for The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash., where he previously worked as an editor and reporter. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children, Jake and Sarah.
