turned into months away.
Mr O'Shea looked out the window,
as he always did before going to bed,
hoping, longing, that she would come home.
A picture on the windowsill caught his eye.
She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress,
and he remembered those vows.
Never will I leave you.
Never will I forsake you.
Of course he knew where to find her.
He had heard the rumours.
He knew it was true.
Awkward and embarrassed,
he walked into the strip club.
The sight of his wife in the arms of another man
cut to his heart.
Putting cash into the hand of her pimp,
Mr O'Shea gently put his coat around his beloved Morag,
and led her out the door,
amidst jeering and laughing.
hurt and ashamed.
But how could he leave her?
He loved her.
she was his wife.
Now that's a true story.
In fact, it's my story,
and it's your story.
Remember what God had said to Hosea.
Have a look back at chapter 1 and verse 2.
Chapter 1 and verse 2.
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea,
the Lord said to him,
Hosea,
go take to yourself an adulterous wife
and children of unfaithfulness,
because the land,
that is the people,
is guilty of the vilest adultery
in departing from the Lord.
So he married Gomer.
It's what theologians call
enactment prophecy.
The prophet not only speaks
God's word to the people,
his life becomes a visible illustration
of God's word to the people.
Hosea's marriage to Gomer
plays out God's marriage to Israel.
You see, Israel is Gomer.
She is an adulterous wife.
Israel has turned her back
on God's faithful, loyal love.
She is chased after other gods.
But God is not about to give up
on his loved one.
God is like Hosea.
He is that loyal, faithful husband.
And through an act of grace
and redemption,
Hosea takes back his adulterous wife
to show us
the depth of God's love for us.
You see, this is my story.
And this is your story.
First, an act of grace
towards an adulterous people.
Look at chapter 3, verse 1.
The Lord said to me,
to Hosea,
go show your love to your wife again.
Again?
You want me to love her again?
Do you not know what she's like?
Do you not know the men
that she slept with?
Hosea had loved his wife again and again.
And now he must love her again.
It's an act of scandalous grace.
The Lord said to me,
go show your love to your wife again,
though she is loved by another
and is an adulteress.
How can Hosea trust her?
What if she runs off again?
After all, you can't trust an adulteress.
Everyone knows you're asking for trouble
if you take back someone
who has had multiple affairs.
You see, the law was crystal clear.
You don't welcome back an adulterous wife.
You stone her.
But yet Hosea reaches out.
He remembers the vows on their wedding day.
Never will I leave you.
Never will I forsake you.
And he shows his love again.
It's scandalous.
Can you imagine the shame Hosea felt
as he walked hand in hand with his wife?
Taking her back in.
The jokes.
Pointing of fingers.
He's an idiot.
What a fool.
But it's not just scandalous.
It's also reckless.
Look what God commands Hosea to do
the second part of verse 1.
Love her
as the Lord loves the Israelites
though they turn to other gods
and love the sacred raisin cakes.
Well, I think we all get the loving
the other gods bit.
But what on earth are these sacred raisin cakes?
Where do you get them?
Down in Lidl or where?
Well, when the Israelites wanted something
instead of turning to God
they went to their made-up gods.
And to provoke the gods in the heavens
to bring blessing down on the people
they would bring
well, one of their acts of sacrifice
was to bring food.
Raisin cakes.
And they would feed
these lifeless
stone wooden gods
so that they would
in return
get better crops
and their animals
would reproduce
and the rains would fall.
They went to their made-up gods
instead of turning
to the only
true God.
Now we
mightn't be into
baking raisin cakes
but we have all turned
from God
to other things
and other people.
We sacrifice
our lives
to the God of work
in search
or in return
for joy
and happiness.
We search
for a partner
or a spouse
hoping that they
will provide
the love
that we long for.
We spend
our money
to the gods
of upgrading
our home
and getting
the latest gadget
or fashion items
in search
of acceptance
of other people.
You see
just like
Gomer
just like
she went
after her
other lovers
just as Israel
went after
their gods
so we
have turned
our back
on the faithful
loyal love
of God.
I
am Gomer
and you
are Gomer.
But look
at the story.
Now Hosea
must love
his wife
again.
Why?
Well look
what it says
in the middle
of verse 1.
Love her
as the Lord
loves
the Israelites.
Hosea
is to take
back
his adulterous
wife
because that
is exactly
what God
does with
unfaithful
Israel.
By taking
back his
promiscuous
wife
Hosea
enacts
the grace
God shows
towards his
people.
It's
reckless.
It makes
no sense.
There's no
guarantee
that Gomer
is going
to stay
and stop
her adulterous
behaviour.
but that's
the point.
That's
the reckless
grace
God shows
to people
like you
and me.
You see
if we are
in any
doubt
about God's
act of
grace
just look
at what
God has
done
for us.
The
scandalous
act as
God
the
almighty
the
one
who
has
existed
from
before
time
began
the
creator
and
sustainer
of the
universe
the
one
who
alone
is
pure
and
holy
becomes
like
one
of us
to
search
for us
to
bring us
home
to
love
us
again.
the
reckless
act
of
God
as
he
takes
on
my
impurity
on
himself
and
suffers
my
shame
my
guilt
and
clothes
us
with
his
purity.
This
is
outrageous
grace.
We do
not
deserve
it.
It's
not
fair.
It
doesn't
make
sense.
But
that
is
the
act
of
grace
God
shows
to
spiritually
adulterous
people
like
you
and
me.
So
first
an
act
of
grace
towards
an
adulterous
people.
Second
an
act
of
redemption
towards
a
broken
people.
Gomer
is
an
adulteress
and
she
is
living
with
another
man.
In
fact
the text
implies
that she
is now
owned
by
another.
Look
at
verse
two.
So
I
bought
her
for
fifteen
shekels
of
silver.
That's
about
six
ounces
just
a
little
necklace.
And
a
homer
and a
lethic
of
barley.
That's
a
barrel
if you
like
of
grain.
and
calculating
these
costs
of
the
silver
and
the
grain
what
Hosea
paid
out
was
the
price
that
you
would
pay
for
a
slave.
In
other
words
Gomer
his
wife
is
in
a
form
of
slavery.
Even
if
she
wanted
to
leave
she
can't.
Gomer
has
exchanged
the
love
of her
husband
for
the
abuse
of
a
pimp.
Hosea's
wife
is
owned
by
another.
So
for
Hosea
his
act
of
grace
must
become
an
act
of
redemption.
Look
at
verse
2
So
I
bought
her.
This
is
costly.
Someone
must
pay.
Someone
must
bear
the
cost.
The
only
way
Gomer
can
be
released
is
for
Hosea
to
redeem
her.
Now
we
mightn't
think
a few
silver
coins
and a
bag
of
barley
is
much
but
it
seems
it's
all
Hosea
had.
He
didn't
have
enough
silver
to
pay
off
it
all.
He
has
to
pay
the
rest
of
it
off
in
grain.
In
other
words
he's
giving
all
that
he
has
to
be
able
to
redeem
his
wife.
And
if
that
doesn't
stir
your
heart
see
how
God's
love
redeems
you
and
me.
You
see
what
Hosea
did
for
Gomer
God
has
done
for
you
and
me
in
Christ.
The
apostle
Peter
reminds
us
for
you
know
that
it
was
not
with
perishable
things
such
as
silver
or
gold
that
you
were
redeemed
from
the
empty
way
of
life
handed
down
to
you
by
your
forefathers
but
with
the
precious
blood
of
Christ.
He
gave
his
all
to
buy
us
back.
Well
Hosea
not only
bought
back
his
wife
he
redeemed
the
relationship.
Verse
3
Then I
told her
you
are to
live
with me
for
many
days.
You
must
not be
a
prostitute
or be
intimate
with
any
man
and
I
will
live
with
you.
The
effects
of
this
redemption
are
both
personal
and
intimate.
You
will
live
with
me
and
I
will
live
with
you.
Hosea
takes
his
adulterous
wife
back
into
the
family
home
but
it's
a
relationship
that's
going
to
take
time.
Hosea
if we
look
carefully
places
conditions
upon
Gomer.
Look at
verse 3
again.
He
says to
her
you
are
to
live
with
me
or
as
it
can
be
translated
you
must
wait
for
me
many
days.
You
must
wait
for
me.
Before
Gomer
can
enjoy
the
trusting
sexual
intimacy
with
her
husband
she
must
wait.
And
further
on in
verse 3
he says
you
must
not
be
a
prostitute.
Gomer
you're
to
stop
playing
the
whore.
So
before
Gomer
can
enjoy
the
full
blessings
of the
marriage
she
must
wait.
She
must
show
that
she
has
no
eyes
for
no
other
man
than
for
her
husband.
And
she
can't
complain
can she?
the
conditions
are
fair
and
reasonable
after
all
that
she's
done.
She
can't
complain
about
this.
Well
how much
greater
then is
God's
redemption
of us?
You
see
when
God
redeems
us
it's
for
the
purpose
of
redeeming
the
relationship
and
guess
what?
There
are
no
conditions.
God
doesn't
look at
us
and
go
well
let's
see
how
this
relationship
goes.
Let's
see
if
you
are
going
to
be
faithful
to
me.
Let's
see
if
you
are
going
to
be
loyal
in
your
love
and
never
turn
your
back.
No
when
God
redeems
us
it
is
immediate
and
complete.
There
are
no
conditions.
We
are
treasured
and
treated
as
his
own
son
enjoying
the
privileges
of
God's
children
with
access
to
the
loving
father
welcomed
and
embraced.
When we
experience
God's
redemption
we
experience
a brand
new
relationship.
The past
put behind
our sin
dealt
with.
God
is
worthy
Schweiz.
The reason
we
drift
from
God
like
Gomer
drifted
from
Hosea
is
why
we
chase
after
other
things
and
people
is
because
we
don't
believe
that
what
God
has
to
offer
is
truly
satisfying
and
fulfilling.
Our
sinful
hearts
continually
tell us that God is not sufficient,
that his love is not enough,
we must go in search of it elsewhere.
Well, listen to what God offers.
We read it at the very beginning
of this morning.
The psalmist wrote,
Apart from you, Lord,
I have no good thing,
for you have made known to me
the path of life.
You will fill me with joy
in your presence,
with eternal pleasures
at your right hand.
We do not need to play the gomer.
We do not need to run from God.
In him our deepest longings are met.
He alone will fully satisfy us.
So, an act of grace,
an act of redemption,
and third, an act of repentance
towards a faithful God.
You see, while God acts in grace
and redemption,
we must respond
with repentance.
God is loving.
But part of his love means
he will not overlook
or ignore our sin.
We must deal
with our sin.
You see, just as
Hosea had said to Gomer
in verse 3,
You must wait
for me many days.
So God says to Israel,
look at verse 4,
For the Israelites
will live for many days.
They too must wait
without king or prince,
without sacrifice
or sacred stone
where they had their idols,
without ephod,
which was what the priest wore,
or idol.
In a sense,
God is saying to the people,
you are going to live
many days
without me.
God is going to strip Israel
of everything they have
and all that they rely on.
And history tells us
that within a few short years,
Assyria would come
and they would invade the nation
and crush them.
And they will have nothing left.
Not even God.
You want to live
life without me?
You want to chase
after your own lovers?
Then a life without me
you shall have.
Judgment
will come.
The people of Israel
will be removed
from God's presence.
You see,
sin cannot be ignored.
and it cannot be overlooked.
We cannot live in sin
and at the same time
live in God's presence.
Adam and Eve knew that
right at the beginning.
They were shut out,
removed from God's presence,
guarded from going back
into the garden.
And that's what's happened to us
and the whole human race.
We have ignored him.
We have pushed God away.
And God is saying,
if you want to live without me,
then a life you shall have
without me.
We cannot have God
while we ignore our sin.
We must deal with it.
We must repent.
You see,
repentance
is not just
stopping
some kind of behaviour
or habit.
It's not
just stopping
some kind of behaviour
or habit.
It's returning to
and a seeking
after God.
And that's what God
promises Israel will do.
But look at who
they are to seek.
Look at verse 5.
Afterwards,
the Israelites
will return
and seek
the Lord
their God
and David
their king.
Now,
does that strike you
as something a bit odd?
David,
the king,
is long since
dead.
How can they
seek a king
who has died,
what,
some 200 years
before?
war?
What do you mean
they're to seek
and return
to David
their king?
This is not
a call to return
to their old
king of Israel
and to go back
to his tomb
or his grave.
This is a call
to return
to the king
who would come
from David's line,
the ultimate king.
king.
The king,
Jesus Christ.
For he is the one
we are to seek.
Jesus is the one
we are to return
to
because Jesus
alone can deal
with our sin.
When Jesus
died for our sin,
he was the one
who was shut
out of God's
presence for us.
He was the one
separated for God.
He was without
God for us,
suffering hell
so that we
could be welcomed
in and enjoy
his presence
forever.
But in returning
to Jesus,
it's not just
a dealing
with sin.
In a seeking
after our
true king,
Jesus Christ,
we are fully
satisfied
so that we
do not
have to sin.
Have a look
at John's
Gospel,
chapter 4.
John's
Gospel,
chapter 4.
You might
know this story
because John
records for us
the story
about a woman.
We don't know
her name.
from Samaria.
She's feeding
or giving
water to
her livestock.
But we know
from the place
where she's
come from,
Samaria,
if you could
trace her
family line,
she would
find her
roots
among the
people
of Israel,
the very
people Hosea
has been
ministering
to.
The people
Hosea had
said,
Assyria is
going to
come and
deal with
you,
but afterwards
you will
return to
me and
you will
seek me.
She is
one of the
ones God
promised
who would
return and
seek the
Lord.
We're told a
little bit of
what her life
is like.
In fact,
this woman
is not
unlike
Gomer,
is she?
She had
five husbands
and the
man she
was with
is not
presently
her husband.
And she
offers Jesus
a drink and
Jesus says
these words
to her,
chapter 4,
verse 13.
Jesus
answered
her,
Everyone
who drinks
this water
will be
thirsty
again,
but whoever
drinks the
water I
give him
will never
thirst.
Indeed,
the water
I give him
will become
in him a
spring of
water,
welling up
to eternal
life.
we do
not need
to chase
after other
lovers.
In Jesus
we are
fully satisfied,
in him
our thirst
is fully
quenched,
we do
not have
to sin.
You see
the story
of Gomer,
the story
of Israel,
the story
of this
woman from
Samaria,
it's my
story,
and it's
your story.
We are
just like
them.
And like
them,
we have a
faithful,
loyal husband
in Jesus
who comes
searching for
us,
seeking us
out,
knowing exactly
what our
lives are
like,
and in an
act of
grace and
redemption,
he provides
the way
home for
you and
for me.
so the
invitation is
return
to Jesus,
seek
Jesus,
for he
alone deals
with sin
and satisfies
us
completely.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.
We can hear
the rain
on the
roof
as we
listen to
the rain.
Think of
that rain
as the
water
that
Jesus
gives
so that
we will
never ever
thirst
again,
flowing
down
upon us.
the invitation to drink
that we might know him fully.
Father, help us
that we would return to you
the source of all life,
the one who gives us joy,
eternal pleasures.
Forgive us when we do run from you.
Help us that we may seek you
all our days
as the perfect, loving, faithful
and loyal husband.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.