QT 08/10/2025 Wed. Hosea 2. From Unfaithfulness to Unfailing Love 从不忠到永恒之爱
QT 08/10/2025 Wed. Hosea 2. From Unfaithfulness to Unfailing Love
READ http://www.esv.org/Hosea2
Today, we focus on God’s righteous judgment, deep mercy, and the redeeming love that pursues His people even in their unfaithfulness.
(1) Israel’s Unfaithfulness Exposed (vv. 2–13)
“Plead with your mother, plead—for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband...”
(Hosea 2:2, ESV)
God, speaking through Hosea, compares Israel to an unfaithful wife who has chased after other lovers — symbols of Israel's idolatry and misplaced trust in other nations and false gods. She believed her blessings — grain, wine, oil — came from Baal, not the Lord (v. 5).
God responds with strong words:
He will strip her bare (v. 3), block her path (v. 6), and take back the gifts she misused (v. 9). This is discipline, not revenge — a loving but severe correction aimed at opening Israel’s eyes to her sin.
Reflection:
In what areas of your life are you tempted to trust in things other than God — success, relationships, comfort, approval? Like Israel, it's easy to forget the true source of our blessings.
(2) God’s Gracious Pursuit (vv. 14–20)
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” (Hosea 2:14, ESV)
In a stunning shift, God moves from judgment to romance. Despite Israel’s betrayal, God says: “I will allure her...” — using the language of love, not law. The wilderness, once a place of judgment, becomes a place of renewal and intimacy.
God promises to restore Israel’s relationship with Him:
New intimacy: “You shall call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call me ‘My Baal.’” (v. 16)
New covenant: “I will betroth you to me forever… in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and mercy.” (vv. 19–20)
Reflection:
God doesn’t just forgive; He woos. Even in our rebellion, He initiates restoration. Have you ever experienced God drawing you back through hardship or conviction — not to punish, but to reclaim your heart?
(3) Redemption and Reversal (vv. 21–23)
“And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” (Hosea 2:23, ESV)
This chapter ends with reversal and restoration:
“Jezreel,” once a place of bloodshed, becomes a place of sowing blessing (v. 22).
The names “Lo-Ruhamah” (No Mercy) and “Lo-Ammi” (Not My People) are reversed — showing God’s heart to restore identity and relationship.
This is not just poetic — it points forward to the gospel. Paul quotes these verses in Romans 9:25–26, applying them to both Jews and Gentiles brought into God’s family through Christ.
(4) Conclusion: The Gospel in Hosea 2
God takes sin seriously — He names it, disciplines it, and exposes it.
But He also takes grace seriously — He pursues, restores, and renames us as His own.
Hosea 2 is not just Israel’s story — it’s ours. We were unfaithful. We chased other gods. And yet, through Jesus, God has spoken tenderly to us, drawn us back, and called us His beloved.
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I have often run after other “lovers” — things that promised joy but left me empty. Thank You that You do not give up on me. Thank You for drawing me back with mercy and restoring me as Your own. Help me love You with the same faithfulness You show to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 08/10/2025 星期三. 何西阿书 2. 从不忠到永恒之爱
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/hos/2/
今日聚焦：即便在子民背叛之时，神仍以公义的审判、深厚的怜悯与救赎之爱追寻祂的子民。
(1) 以色列背信的揭露（2-13节）
“要与你们的母亲争论，你们要争论，因为她不是我的妻子，我也不是她的丈夫；好让她除掉脸上的淫相，和乳间的淫态，”（何西阿书2:2）
神借何西阿发声，将以色列比作背弃丈夫的淫妇——象征她崇拜外邦神明、将信靠寄托于假神。她误以为五谷、新酒、油膏皆源于巴力而非耶和华（第5节）。
神以严厉的话语回应：
祂将使她赤身露体（第3节），阻断她的去路（第6节），收回她滥用的恩赐（第9节）。这是管教而非报复——带着慈爱的严厉纠正，旨在唤醒以色列对自身罪孽的觉醒。
反思：
你生命中哪些领域容易陷入对神以外事物的依赖——成功、人际关系、舒适、认可？如同以色列，我们极易忘记祝福的真正源头。
(2) 神恩典的追寻（14-20节）
“因此，我要诱导她，领她到旷野，对她说安慰的话。” （何西阿书2:14）
上帝以惊人的转变，从审判转向浪漫。尽管以色列背叛，上帝却说：“我要引诱她...”——用的是爱的语言，而非律法的言辞。旷野，这个曾经审判之地，如今成为更新与亲密相交之所。
神应许重建与以色列的关系：
新契约：“耶和华说：“到那日，你必称呼我‘伊施’（“伊施”意即“我夫”），不再称呼我‘巴力’（“巴力”意即“我主”）。”（16节）
新亲密：“19 我必聘你永远归我，以公义、正直、忠信和怜悯聘你归我。20 我必以信实聘你归我；这样，你就必认识耶和华。”我必永远与你立约...以公义、正直、慈爱、怜悯为根基。”（19-20节）
反思：
神不仅赦免，更主动追求。即便在我们悖逆时，祂仍开启修复之道。你可曾经历神借苦难或责备将你挽回——不是为惩罚，而是要夺回你的心？
(3) 救赎与逆转（21-23节）
“我必为了自己把她栽种在这地。我必怜恤那些不蒙怜恤的。我必对那些不是我的子民说：‘你是我的子民’，他们必说：‘你是我们的 神。’”（何西阿书2:23）
本章以逆转与复兴作结：
曾是血腥之地“耶斯列”，将化作播撒祝福的沃土（22节）。
“罗·路哈玛”（无怜悯）与“罗·阿米”（非我民）之名被颠覆——彰显神要恢复身份与关系的旨意。
这不仅是诗意的表达——更预示着福音。保罗在罗马书9:25-26引用这些经文，将其应用于借着基督进入神家中的犹太人和外邦人。
(4) 结论：何西阿书2章中的福音
神严肃对待罪——祂指明罪名，惩戒罪行，并揭露罪恶。但祂同样严肃对待恩典——祂追寻我们，使我们复归，并重新命定我们为祂的子民。何西阿书第二章 神严肃对待罪——祂指明罪名，管教罪行，揭露罪恶。
但祂同样严肃对待恩典——祂追寻我们，恢复我们，并重新称我们为祂的子民。
何西阿书第二章不仅是以色列的故事——更是我们的故事。我们曾不忠，追逐别神。然而借着耶稣，神温柔地呼唤我们，将我们拉回怀中，称我们为祂所爱的。
祷告：
主啊，我承认自己常追逐其他“情人”——那些承诺喜乐却令我空虚的事物。感谢祢从未放弃我。感谢祢以怜悯将我挽回，使我恢复为祢的子民。求祢帮助我以祢待我的忠心来爱祢。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
