Wednesday 06 February 2013

Background

Today brings a new chapter and a new dawn. The start of thischapter brings us back to the very beginning, what motivates Godand that is not anger, revenge or causing misery but love. Thisshort and concise chapter seeks to bring some calibration to theproceedings. Hosea reminds his audience why all this judgement hasoccurred in the first place, liking Israel to a child and creatinga picture of a family to bring things into perspective. The chapteris like a historical poem reminding the reader what brought eventsto this bleak and horrid point. It gives context but alsoconfidence, and assures the people that actually God does care.

The words and phrases begin to change, with verbs like "loved","called", "taught", and "healed" (vv. 1, 3); also, liking thenation to a child gives the impression of new life and new hope.God is longing for reconciliation: "How can I give you up,Ephraim?" and "How can I hand you over, Israel?"(v. 8). Then comesthe crunch moment when God declares "my heart recoils within me, mycompassion grows warm and tender" (v. 8) when it is clear God isgoing to offer forgiveness and that fresh start which is so badlyneeded in the present situation.

The rest of the passage is then concerned with what God is goingto do stemming from this change of heart. The people will come backand follow God and God "will return them to their homes" (v. 11).What an amazing turnaround which has taken place, from the despairand desolation of the last chapter, to this new promise, this newhorizon unfolding in this chapter. There is a chance now for thepeople; a new chapter in their nationhood.

To Ponder

• Does despair always lead to hope?

• When is the last time you had a change of heart brought aboutthrough a discovery of compassion?

• What would a new chapter in your life look like?