God’s Unfailing Love

9 "Yisra'el, you have sinned from the days of Gevah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gevah.

10 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; And the nations will be gathered against them, When they are bound to their two transgressions.

11 Efrayim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; So I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Efrayim. Yehudah will plow. Ya`akov will break his clods.

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek the LORD, Until he comes and rains righteousness on you.

13 You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, For you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

14 Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, And all your fortresses will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beit-Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

15 So Beit-El will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Yisra'el will be destroyed. - Hsa 10:9-15 HNV

The Old Testament book of Hosea is the story of God’s faithful love for His unfaithful people. In what seems strange to us, the Lord commanded Hosea to marry a woman who would break her marriage vows and bring grief to him (Hosea 1:2-3). After she deserted Hosea for other men, the Lord told him to take her back—a picture of “the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods” (3:1).

Later, Hosea was called upon to tell the Israelites that because of their rebellion against the Lord, they would be carried away into captivity by a foreign power. “Tumult shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be plundered” (10:14).

Yet in the midst of their sin and punishment, the grace of God toward His people was never exhausted. In a grace-filled exhortation, He said: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you” (10:12).

Even when we have “plowed wickedness” and “reaped iniquity” (10:13), God does not stop loving us. Whatever our situation today, we can turn to the Lord and find forgiveness to make a new start. His love never fails!

The Lord bestows unfailing love,
Forgiving when we fall
And then repent and turn to Him,
Responding to His call. —Sper

No force is greater than the power of God’s love.

http://odb.org/2012/04/19/gods-unfailing-love/
"Fair Use For Educational or Discussion Purposes"