I’m preparing a study in Hosea 4 for a small group tonight, and so I’m reading a commentary to get up to speed with Hosea’s prophecy. In chapter 2 Hosea looks ahead to the day when YHWH will betroth Himself to His people. Back in the day, a betrothal involved the groom to pay the bride’s father approximately 50 shekels of silver. But YHWH, instead, promised to pay in righteousness, justice, mercy, faithfulness and steadfast love (v19-20).
Who gets these attributes? The father of the bride? (who’s that?!)
The people get them, so that they can properly engage in the intimate relation God so desires.
God’s people will be gifted by God the ability to be seeking the good of those who are dependent (mercy); they will act appropriately to the multitude of relations they find themselves involved (justice); they will be unswerving in their commitment in their devotion to YHWH (righteousness and faithfulness).
In her commentary, Elizabeth Achtemeier expresses it:
“Thus, these are the qualities that Yahweh gives, not to the father of the bride, but to the bride herself, so that henceforth the relation between God and his people Israel will be characterized by mutual righteousness, justice, devotion, mercy, and faithfulness. Here is the promise that the Israelites will be transformed in their inner selves to live with their God in that relation of intimate love and faithfulness for which God so yearns... By transforming the people from the inside out, and by altering their circumstances in the world, God will usher in a new age of righteousness and justice, covenant love and mercy, in which Israel will be forever faithful to the God who has been everlastingly faithful to her.”
God’s gifts don’t stop with His people but overflow into all creation, gifting the lands with rain from the heavens. This sets off a mutual giving and receiving between the heavens and earth, the earth and grain and grain and oil- each one calling for the other to share the plentitude. This is a picture of creation flourishing in its interconnectivity, and so comes creation’s response to God’s provision- “the exultant cry of nature, celebrating the God who fructifies it”- ‘Jezreel’, meaning ‘God will sow’.
Let’s follow the lead of the earth and heavens in our response to God’s gift.