Old Llantrisant Hill
- A few here that can remember the 70's
- Popular song: love hurts
- These words could have been written about Hosea
- He could have fully identified with the painful experience identified in that song
- Chapter 1
- Commanded to marry Gomer - who will not be faithful to him
- She will bring to Hosea a lot of heartache
- She conceives a son with Hosea - called Jezreel
- This name spoke of bloodshed, betrayal and badness
- He would avenge the blood spilt by Jehu
- Example of Son's name
- Gomer conceives again - but not Hosea's child
- She is called Lo-Ruhamah - that means "means no-mercy"
- God will no longer have mercy towards Israel as they have been adulterous towards Him and gone after other god
- Gomer conceives again - but not Hosea's child
- He is called Lo-Ammni - that means "not My people"
- God will no longer be there God
- This is like an episode out of daytime TV - a very bad situation
- What will God do next?
- Is He willing to pay the price of love and restore them to Himself
- Chapter 3
- Hosea is commanded to love Gomer
- Gomer has not come in apology to Hosea seeking forgiveness - in fact she is in the arms of another love
- Hosea does not want her back
- He is told "go again"
- He wants to put the situation behind him and move on with his life
- God does not suggest that Hosea try to salvage this relationship for one last time - God commands
- How incredibly hard this must have been for Hosea
- God was not demanding anything of Hosea that He does not demand Himself
- God loves a sinful people
- Even though they have worshiped other gods, despised Him, treated Him with contempt
- 1 John 4:10
- Example of Baptist Pastor Peter Miller
- One man showing love for an enemy
- God loves those who are His determined enemies because He chooses to
- His love towards us in unconditional
- Our sins require judgment
- He chooses to save a people for His name sake and glory
- To be merciful and show the glory of His grace
- This love cannot be found outside of God
- Will you spurn this love by refusing to repent of your sin and refusing to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation
- Chapter 3
- Hosea buys Gomer - we don't know the full story
- Maybe she has been sold as a slave for prostitution
- Maybe there was a bidding war
- Maybe people were aghast that Hosea has bid everything to buy back this woman who has ruined his life
- The command to buy back Gomer has cost Hosea a lot
- What did it cost God the Father to redeem us from our sin?
- He paid a price beyond all measure - His only begotten Son died in our place on the cross
- The penalty of our sin paid by Jesus so that we would know the love of God
- John 3:16
- Example of refugee camp
- We understand the love of a mother towards her child
- How can we understand the love of God?
- We are worthless before a mighty God
- We have sinned and rebelled against Him
- Yet He paid an incalculable price to set us free from sin
- God calls on us to repent of our sin and trust in faith upon Him
- Christianity is not a religion that we must sacrifice or pay to reach God but of a God who sacrificed and paid to reach us
- Gomer graciously restored
- She is not a slave
- He has not done this out of revenge
- She will be his wife - he will love her as though she had never been unfaithful
- She will stay with him many days and remain faithful
- Hosea will stay with her - he commits himself to her
- God restores all those who receive forgiveness of sin in the Lord Jesus Christ
- Romans 5:1
- We are transformed by God - 2 Cor 5:17
- He commits himself to them
- Example of artwork in the mansion
- A disfigured wall turned into a wonderful highland scene
- God takes ugly/sinful creatures and refashions us into glorious trophies of His grace
- He restores us to what we ought to be
- We are all expert at covering our sin - but God sees our sin
- However, when God looks at us, He sees that we are clothed in Jesus' righteousness
- He restores us to Himself so that we can have full fellowship with Him
- We are given everything in Christ
- Come to Christ today - so that you might be restored and that you would be acceptable to God
- Closing Remarks
- Trust in Jesus
- Praise God!