God's Faithful Love

What is the cost of true love?

Let me read you a story about love.

The old man and his wife sat by The winter fire and looked out high Above the plains,

"It's true that life is far more sweet," "when it is lost, Then bought again at dreadful cost; And love grows strong when it must wait, And deep when it is almost hate."

Such things as these he often said To his wife as they watched the red And crimson echoes of the sky Descend Mount Tabor's cliffs and die.

In darkness far below. And she Would say to him, "Your love for me Was like a mountain waterfall, And I the jagged stone. Of all The knives and hammers once applied None made me smooth or clean. They tried,

But harlotry was in my blood, Until your love became a flood Cascading over my crude life And kept me as your only wife."

The passing of the years now found The children grown and gathered 'round This night: the children at his knee.

The room was sweet With memories, and each replete With pleasure and with ample pain. Among the memories one main Experience above the rest Embraced them all.

It was the best; Indeed it was the mountain spring Of every happy stream from which The family ever drank, and rich With hope.

It was the father's love. The children stood in wonder of The way he loved, and as the wife did too. But this had not always been true.

And so it was, the father heard The Lord.

It was the strangest word A person ever got: And every pointed precept shot Like arrows at his's life: "Go take a harlot for your wife," Thus says the Lord, "And feel with me The grief and pain of harlotry. Her father will not see Her go without a price, for she Has brought him profits from her trade.

Now go, and let her price be paid; And bring her back and let her bear Your children.

The years went by, the children grew, The river bent and she knew A dozen men.

And finally She left and traveled to the sea, And sold herself to foreign priests Who made the children serve at feasts Until they had no shame.

And then The God of grace came down again, And said, "Go, embrace Your wife beside the sea.

And so this man loved these four again, and sought them by the sea, and bought them with the equity Of everything he owned.

That was The memory tonight, because he loved beyond the way Of mortal man. What man would say, "Love grows more strong when it must wait, And deeper when it's almost hate."

"And children," He said with tears, "Mark this, the miracle of years." She looked him in the face And said, "Hosea, man of grace, Dark harlotry was in my blood, Until your love became a flood Cascading over my crude life And kept me as your only wife. I love the very ground you trod, And most of all, I love your God."

What does this story teach us about the nature of true love?

God faithfully pursues his people even when they are unfaithful.

The love we imagine is filled with emotion and nice thoughts and filling.

We don’t think about sacrifice or if we do it’s in a general sense or vague. There is no feelings of pain or hurt to deal with when its like that.

The love in this story is one of unconditional love and faithfulness.

How are we like this story? Which character do we as followers of Jesus relate too?

Are we the abandoned but faithful husband who has every right to turn his back on his wife, but in love, paid the price for his wife’s freedom?

Or are we the wife, who is powerless to change her situation, continues to be unfaithful to the husband?

Or are we the wife, who is powerless to change her situation, continues to be unfaithful to the husband.

1.

Maybe we don’t think what we do is a big deal so it doesn't matter the results.

We don’t like taking responsibility for our actions.

This story illustrates the relationship that we have with God.

There is our unfaithfulness...

Hosea 1:2 NLT

2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.”

Hosea 1:8–9 CSB

8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 Then the Lord said: Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

God’s unconditional love...

Hosea 1:2–9 NLT

2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son. 4 And the Lord said, “Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence. 5 I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.” 6 Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, “Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—‘Not loved’—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them. 7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the Lord their God.” 8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. 9 And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.

Hosea 2:16 NLT

16 When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’

Hosea 2:19–20 NLT

19 I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. 20 I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.

Hosea 1:2

Hosea 2:19-

Hosea 2:23 CSB

23 I will sow her in the land for myself, and I will have compassion on Lo-ruhamah; I will say to Lo-ammi: You are my people, and he will say, “You are my God.”

Hosea 2:

Hosea 2:16

Hosea 2:16–23 NLT

16 When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’ 17 O Israel, I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips, and you will never mention them again. 18 On that day I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky and the animals that scurry along the ground so they will not harm you. I will remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, so you can live unafraid in peace and safety. 19 I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. 20 I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord. 21 “In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord. “I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds. And the sky will answer the earth with rain. 22 Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees. And they in turn will answer, ‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’ 23 At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’ ”

It is so easy to live as if the consequences of our mistakes don’t apply to us.

Maybe we don’t think what we do is a big deal so it doesn't matter the results.

Maybe we don’t think what we do is a big deal so it doesn't matter the results.

3.

We don’t like taking responsibility for our actions.

We don’t like taking responsibility for our actions.

Hosea

Hosea 3:1–3 NLT

1 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.” 2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. 3 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.”

How does this remind us of what God has done for us in the gospel?

How does this remind us of what God has done for us in the gospel?

Hosea 3:1–5 CSB

1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and five bushels of barley. 3 I said to her, “You are to live with me many days. You must not be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.” 4 For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.

Hosea’s relationship with Gomer reminds us of God’s relationship with the people of Israel and with us.

Even though we are unfaithful and love other things more than God, God still loves us.

Hosea

It was because of His love that God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sin and bring us back to Him.

God faithfully pursues his people even when they are unfaithful.

Love isn’t love until there is a cost.