The Ultimate Promise

“I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.” (Ho 2:20 AV)

This promise comes amid dire statements regarding Israel’s immediate future.  The LORD, by His prophet Hosea, is severely rebuking Israel for their idolatry.  They had left Jehovah God for the false gods of their neighbors.  They had compromised everything it meant to be God’s chosen people.  Pride and lust were the cause.  They were offended because God choose Judah rather than Ephraim.  After all, the first governor of the nation was Joseph, the father of Ephraim.  Half of the judges in the book of Judges were from the tribe of Ephraim.  They felt entitled to lead the nation.  When Rehoboam lost the ten northern tribes, they left the customs and religion of the south.  In pure spite, they rejected everything it meant to be Jewish, excluding purity of lineage.  Because they would have lost a physical inheritance, they knew enough to separate physically.  But culturally and religiously, they compromised with their neighbors.  Eventually, the kingdom of Assyria would invade and take them all into captivity.  The book of Hosea is the judgment proclaimed upon the rebellious northern kingdom.  It is rather pointed and bleak.  Right in the middle of the harsh words of judgment, there is this promise of grace.  In the times of the end, Israel will come together, and those who wish to believe in Jesus will be cared for in the wilderness.  There is a promise from God for faithfulness toward his people.

Those who have been married a lifetime treasure faithfulness.  Not because their spouse is faithful; although that indeed is a treasure.  Rather, being faithful is one of the greatest gifts of love one can give.  True love is never about desire or possessiveness.  True love is about faithfulness.  Faithfulness requires self-imposed limitations for the good of the one you love.  Faithfulness requires desiring the pleasure and provision of another more than one’s own.  Faithfulness means there is no other that can or will occupy that single place of prominence in the heart.  Faithfulness requires focus.  Faithfulness means the eyes are only toward the one you love.  The blessing of faithfulness is that when restricted from all other choices, the treasure of the one you made is amplified.  You didn’t get the best that was available.  You got the best, period.  The longer I am married to my best friend, the more I appreciate faithfulness.  Not hers.  I have never doubted hers.  I appreciate mine.  Not arrogantly.  Rather, the pleasure of being solely committed to one person is the foundation of a love that cannot be experienced any other way.  Faithfulness is a blessing not only for the one to whom it is shown, but the possessor of faithfulness is equally blessed.

We may not be God’s chosen people.  This verse is more aptly applied to Israel.  However, the church is the bride of Christ and, in the same manner, He has promised the same.  Our Savior is faithful.  He will love no other.  His love is reserved for the church, no matter how much we may or may not reciprocate.  The love of our Savior is faithfulness.  He will never leave.  He will never forsake.  He will never cast us aside.  We are saved by grace and kept by grace.  We are also loved by grace.  God cannot be unfaithful.  It is contrary to His holiness.  He can be nothing else.  Our Father and His Son love us with an everlasting love.  They love us beyond our ability to understand it.  Divine faithfulness must first produce gratitude.  We should be eternally grateful for His faithfulness.  Second, divine faithfulness should be reciprocated in kind.  If He is faithful to us, we should be the same toward Him.  We will fail from time to time.  But our hearts should repent and recommit to the One who loved us enough to die for us.  The verse above is a precious one.  As the bride of Christ, we share this promise with Israel.