May 8
The Continual Burnt Offering"I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord."
Hosea is in some respects the tenderest of all the prophets, except perhaps Jeremiah, who was a man of very similar spirit. But the latter was unmarried, whereas Hosea had a very sad matrimonial experience, which was designed of God to set forth Israel’s relationship to Himself and their unfaithfulness to the covenant He had made with them. Hosea’s wife proved untrue to all her vows and became a poor characterless slave. Yet the prophet sought her out, redeemed her, and took her to himself in forgiving love, only to have his heart broken by her continued waywardness. It sets forth most graphically, not only Jehovah’s unchanging love for Israel, His earthly people, but pictures vividly His grace toward the individual soul. He is Redeemer, restorer, and unfailing friend, whose lovingkindness exceeds our worst offences and whose forgiveness is extended to every repentant sinner, no matter how dark and shameful the record may be.
Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so!
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all Divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His and He is mine.
—W. Robinson