Tuesdays in Other Words MemeThis week's writing prompt is:
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:14
I needed a bit of help understanding this section of Hosea before I was ready to write. Pastor J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible commentary was helpful to me.
Hosea 2 goes on to say in verse 15 "There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt."
J. Vernon McGee explained that The Valley of Achor is where God judged the Israelites sin. It is in Achor where the Israelites learned important lessons and were restored. Verse 15 says that God will also bless the Israelites in Achor. However, this is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Ancient Achor is near Shechem and is still controlled by Arabs.
The Message version explains vs. 14 and 15 like this "I'm going to start all over again. I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I'll court her. I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt."
Although these verses were written about the Israelites, they can provide lessons for all Christians. God wants to get us away from our temptations to sin. Once we let Him deal with our sins and restore us, then we will be ready to participate in His perfect will for our lives and to receive His blessing.
I've spent many years wondering why God didn't bless me. I said the special prayer of salvation and tried to live a good life. However, I've realized this past year that God isn't interested in me performing the bare necessities for Him. He wants me to consciously stop sinning on a daily business, to grow closer to Him, to study His word and to spend time with Him, to serve Him and follow His will daily.
I want the Lord to start all over with me - to allure me and draw me close to Him. I want Him to restore me and give me a passion to serve Him. I'd like for Him to bless me, when He sees fit. The Israelites still haven't received their blessing in Achor, so I understand that my blessing my take awhile to come. But I have all of eternity.
Heather at Titus 2 Woman is hosting Tuesdays in Other Words this week.
A Sermon for Hosea Chapter 2
