1. The Unfailing Love
Of God

2. Foundational Truths or Meaningless Platitudes?
The Love
Of God
“God is love”
True statements, but the question that must be answered is what do these statements mean?
When we are facing real concrete challenges to our faith, when we are dealing with trials that we can describe in precise terms, when we live in an environment of invasive temptation we need more than open ended statements that are so broad in their meaning as to mean almost nothing
“Unconditional Love”
Foundational Truths or Meaningless Platitudes?

3. The Love
Of God
A desire to experience His love should shape our attitudes and actions
A recognition of the nature of His love ought to guide us in every relationship that we participate in
The love of God should give us courage to face trials

4. The Hosea
Analogy
Hosea - God
Gomer - Israel
Lovers - Idols

5. of Hosea The Background Final prophet sent to the North
His work coincided with the period described in 2Kings 15
It is against this backdrop that God chose to express the nature, depth and boundaries of His love for mankind

6. “take yourself a wife of harlotry”
The Suffering
of Love
“take yourself a wife of harlotry”
Not a practicing harlot - Deut 22:20-21
The original term literally means “fornication,” used to describe an attitude of promiscuity
Hosea was commanded to take a woman who embodied the spirit of the day
Hosea 4:12

7. Love
Betrayed
Gomer’s wanton behavior betrayed her husband’s love - Hosea 2:1-5
Hosea actually loved Gomer - Hosea 3:1
Hosea’s decision to marry her made him vulnerable to the pain of this betrayal

8. “take yourself a wife of harlotry”
Love
Betrayed
“take yourself a wife of harlotry”
“Israel was holiness unto the Lord” Jeremiah 2:2-3
In Israel there was the potential for betrayal - Ex 19:3-8; Dt 7:7-8
The analogy demonstrates not only the reality of God’s willingness to suffer as a result of loving us, but also how far He is willing go in this suffering

9. Love
Betrayed
This willingness to risk, i.e. to be vulnerable, is seen in:
The creation as God forms man to fellowship with Him
The flood as God has mercy, allowing man to continue on through righteous Noah
The sending of His only begotten Son

10. Love
Applied
WE MUST SEE ALL OF GOD’S ACTIONS AND ATTRIBUTES THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS LOVE FOR US
WE MUST SEE ALL OF GOD’S COMMANDMENTS THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS LOVE
WILL YOU BE GOMER OR HOSEA?

11. Covenant Love Expressed Through
Any covenant between God and man is a covenant between a superior and an inferior
Such covenants must be instigated by the superior, often the result of military victory
However, with God we do not see His covenants offered on the basis of victory but on the basis of grace

12. Covenant Love Expressed Through Unconditional Love
The covenants of God cannot be forced upon Him, nor can the terms be set through diplomacy
The offer of grace along with the particulars of the offer are unconditional in the sense that God freely presents them to mankind - John 3:16; Rom 9:15-16
This in no way indicates a lack of condition to participate in this loving relationship - Jn 3:16b,Rom 9:33

13. Covenant Love Expressed Through Unconditional Love
Every covenant has terms or conditions that must be met - Hosea 4:1-6
Those who attempt to separate God’s law and God’s love have missed the point and demonstrate that they do not know God
If a covenant is to have any value those conditions must be enforced - Hosea 2:11-13

14. What Does
Love Allow
Jerzreel - this name has a dual meaning that lies at the heart of the message of the book - “to sow and to reap” or “ to scatter and to gather”
Lo-ruhamah - “she has not obtained compassion”
Lo-ammi - “not my people”

15. Love Allow What Does FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HIM TO BE SCATTERED
TO HAVE NO MERCY UPON THOSE WHO ARE NOT HIS PEOPLE
TO GATHER AGAIN THE PENITENT