Scripture: Hosea 2:19-20
And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.
Thought for the Day: The prophet Hosea used some rather creative and often shocking metaphors when it came to the people’s relationship with God. The covenant he hoped to see was like a marriage, but at times the people acted like whores (not my word, but Hosea’s). Even the phrase to ‘know the Lord’ carries with it a sense of intimacy. It is the Hebrew verb Yada which is often a euphemism for a sexual relationship. Of course, the idea is to describe a relationship that is intimate and fruitful. Our Puritan roots often make us blush and ignore this kind of language in the Bible, but it is there. I would suggest that it is much more evocative and meaningful then the sterile and mundane ways we usually speak about our relationship with God.
Prayer: Holy God, call me into a relationship that is life-giving for the world. Amen.
Consider inviting someone to church.
You’ll both be glad you did it!
