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Pastor Jeremy Schultz
July 17, 2011
Today's story that you never hear, if you'll forgive me, is R-rated. It's about God's prophet named Hosea, who is told by God to do a very difficult thing. Hosea is to again love his wife, who has not loved him. Her name is Gomer and she's strikingly beautiful. As such, she's always had plenty of suitors. She's never lacked for admirers or attention. But most of those men have never looked past her outward appearance. They would see her make-up, her jewelry and of course, her figure. They would lure and entice her away, even though she was already married. And they would often get from her just what they wanted. Her abandonment of Hosea probably started with some little white lies. She'd turn her wedding ring around, then one day she stopped wearing it altogether. She'd stay out late night after night and then one evening...she just didn't come home at all. I'm sure that in time, Gomer felt less and less beautiful. I'm sure that there were times when she would sit alone and tears would smear her make-up. This isn't what she always dreamed about. But she had long since pushed her husband away and she had broken his heart.
In this story that you never hear, God told Hosea to go and take Gomer back. Hosea was to love this woman again that had not loved him. She would again be his wife and in this way, God would again love the children of Israel who had loved other gods. So Hosea goes into the home of her lover, and redeems her at a price of 15 silver shekels and 9 bushels of barley. Hosea's loving of Gomer is an example of God's passionate love for His people - a love that will tolerate no rivals.
You see, Israel had seen a time of peace and prosperity that it has not seen for 200 years. Yet because of all she enjoyed, she had forgotten God and, like a harlot, had gone after other lovers. The people were guilty of swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery. They had broken all bounds and crossed all lines (4:2). There was no faithfulness. There was no steadfast love that they demonstrated toward God. Hosea says, “Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early” (6:4). The people had taken God's wedding ring off their finger and thrown it into the sewer. And it broke His heart.
I know you'd never want to name your child Gomer and yet, it's clear, that the name fits us well. We are given love by God and are called His own in baptism. We are given a white garment of salvation to wear and all our sins are forgiven. He gives us a family in the church. He laughs with us when we're happy and comes to our aid when we cry out for help. He holds us when we're sad and He feeds us at His table. He speaks to us in His Word and gives us everything that we need.
Yet, for the most part, we act like we couldn't care less. We put on different appearances and go off away from Him in search of good times that we think will never end. Oh and there is no shortage of suitors for our affections. There's sex. We can feed every sinful fantasy with a click of the mouse or we can indulge in a real-life dalliance and make-believe that no one knows. There's work. We think we can build an empire with our hands and forget that it is God who taught us to walk. There's good times found at the bottom of a bottle...or so you may think. But very often, once all these suitors have had their way with you, you're left alone feeling less and less attractive. This isn't what you or anyone else wanted for you.
In the following brief clip, you will see the indictment against God's people, but you will also see God's fierce and passionate love that stirs His hear to action.
What stirs the heart of God is not faithfulness of His people, but His passionate love that forgives them. When you love someone like He loves you then you can hardly breathe. Your chest is pounding. You can feel your heart racing. Your mind is clear and completely focused on that one critical thing - the object of your affection. And you've got to draw close. You're breathless with anticipation of having them in your arms. And so it is with God.
When Jesus stopped across the Kidron Valley to overlook Jerusalem, His heart was stirred. He was deeply moved with love for His people. It nearly took His breath away as He ached for their return of affection. He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. City that kills the prophets and stones those set to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!” (Matthew 23:37).
Like a spurned lover, who nevertheless still loves, Jesus entered into the Garden of His temptation knowing that there was only one way by which He could have His people back. He would have to enter the house of His people's lover and buy them back. But unlike Hosea, who purchased Gomer for 15 silver shekels and nine bushels of barley, the price for our redemption was far greater. Jesus knew this. As He poured out His broken heart in prayer to God the Father, Jesus' wish that there was some other way was met by His own greater knowledge that there was not and His firm resolve to do what was necessary to redeem us from the grasp of the enemy. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “Know then that you were not ransomed from your futile ways with perishable things such as gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus.” The only way for Jesus to pay our ransom and redeem us from Satan's grasp was to die on the cross and shed His own blood as an offering to atone for our sin and our guilt.
This is how much God loves you! He loves you from the depth of His heart and with everything in His being. He brings you back to Himself. And He embraces you with a passion that will tolerate no rivals. He wipes the smeared paint from your face, until it glows and reflects His radiance. He removes the tattered clothing that betrays the use and misuse of your bodies and puts on the white garment of Christ's salvation. It's like the day of your baptism when all was new and all was right...just you and He always dreamed it would be! It's like the day of your wedding with everything just perfect. You are the bride. He is the bridegroom. And He is not only standing there ready to bind Himself to you with vows everlasting love and faithfulness, but as Ephesians 5 declares, “He presents you to Himself without any stain or wrinkle or blemish, but holy and blameless in His sight” (vs. 27). Oh, His heart is stirred for you. “I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice and in mercy and loving kindness” (Hosea 2:19). Forever!
Friends, this is the love you've always dreamed about. This is the faithfulness and strength you have only previously imagined. This is the God who will take you into His arms forever. And you will never want another. Amen.
© St. Paul Lutheran Church 2011