Hosea is really about a strange ‘Love Story’. Hosea was told to marry a woman worthless in character. I fact a harlot. God was using this for a sign to His people of how they remained the object of His love in spite of their sinfulness. This all seems very strange to us. But God was making the picture of His Redeeming Grace. Grace is unmerited favor.

Hosea obeyed God and married Gomer {Hosea1 v3}. His name was hers, Home, reputation. God’s favor, comfort, were Gomer’s. All that he had he gave her. How like Our Lord and Our Redeemer and Our Friend this is. He not only came to us while we were yet in sin, but He also died the death of shame on The Cross of Calvary for us that all He Had might be ours.

Hosea  6 verse 6; {Message Bible}

“I’m after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.”

The Book of Hosea in the Old Testament, is about God’s everlasting Love. The heart of Hosea’s message is found in the above scripture. Another translation of this verse is:

“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings,”

We often get busy in the things of God, not really knowing The realness of relationship with Him. Religion is a head knowledge, way of life, Christianity {or a follower of Christ Jesus}, is a relationship, were He wants to be apart of everyday life, as Our Lord and as Our Friend. Of course He is much more than that, He has done so much for us, and the essences is to know more about Him and God’s overall great love for us.

There was a belief around Hosea’s time, that it didn’t matter what they did as long as they turned up at the temple and took part in the necessary rituals. But God says that true worship is not found in merely saying the right words or obeying the right rituals, but in trying to live according to the will of God.

The Will of God lies in His Moral Attributes, His Holiness, His Righteousness, His Perfect Love, and His faithfulness.

These are the attributes which God intends us to possess  and  they are not ritualistic attributes, but attributes to live and walk in. They come through relationship knowledge in spending time with Him, and not serving Him out of ritual, or another persons concept of Him.

God loves us individually and wants us to love Him in the same way. Corporate worship {church} should be, many individuals coming  together to express their great love, they have for their Creator God, and not just a ritualistic gathering. Out of this kind of corporate worship the world will be changed, for His Glory alone, and not for any mans ideologies.

God Bless.

O F J.