Hosea

The book of Hosea contains the love story of God for his people.  Hosea is a prophet who is told by God to marry an adulterous wife.  Hosea marries a prostitue named Gomer.  There is a debate among scholars about whether or not Gomer was a prostitute before she married Hosea or whether she was a prostitute when they got married.  The argument is based on exegetical parallelism and asserts that if she is to symbolize the nation of Israel, she would have to start off chaste.  However, I think that this interpretation is first of all overridden by the fact that I believe that each individual is a prostitute right from the start for they follow after other gods, particularly exalting themselves as a god and I think that would make much more sense and that Gomer was a prostitute when Hosea married her.  However, during their marriage her prostitution became so rampant just like Israel's did also.  Gomer bore Hosea two three children.  One of them was named Jezreel as a symbolism that judgment would soon come upon Israel in the valley of Jezreel.  Another was named Lo-Ruhamah which means "not loved."  The other was named Lo-Ammi which means "not my people."  Later in the book Hosea lets his wife be sold into prostitution.  however, he is then instructed by God to go back and get here.  This symbolizes the fact that God gives everyone a free will.  Gomer used that free will to sell herself into prostitution just like the house of Israel prostituted itself after other gods.  Yet, later in the book Hosea is instructed to go and buy his wife back.  This symbolizes the rturn of a remnant of Israel to their land.  Remember that Israel literally means "one who struggles with God."  This book which is written about how the Babylonian Captivity is going to come upon Israel because of her constant going after the Baals and the other false gods and goddesses in the land can still apply to you as a Christian today.  Much in the same way that Hosea had to be back Gomer as his wife, God had a mission 2000 years ago to buy back his bride.  Therefore he sent his son Jesus Christ who purchased us as his bride through his shed blood on the cross and will someday return after preparing a place for us and will thus take us home.  Hosea speaks frequently of Israel's sin, but he also promises that repentance will bring blessing.  Perhaps you as a Christian have gone through difficult times when you have felt so distant from God and you have wandered off so far from God because you think you did something wrong.  God's waiting for you and he went through all the filth even bearing your own filth upon himself in order to purchase for you forgiveness of your sins.  All you have to is repent today and he will galdly forgive you.