Justice and the Prophets
God Requires Justice
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Called to Accountability
Hosea 2:14-23 The Message
To Start All Over Again
14-15 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do:
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.
16-20 “At that time”—this is God’s Message still—
“you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’
Never again will you address me,
‘My slave-master!’
I’ll wash your mouth out with soap,
get rid of all the dirty false-god names,
not so much as a whisper of those names again.
At the same time I’ll make a peace treaty between you
and wild animals and birds and reptiles,
And get rid of all weapons of war.
Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies!
And then I’ll marry you for good—forever!
I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.
Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go.
You’ll know me, God, for who I really am.
21-23 “On the very same day, I’ll answer”—this is God’s Message—
“I’ll answer the sky, sky will answer earth,
Earth will answer grain and wine and olive oil,
and they’ll all answer Jezreel.
I’ll plant her in the good earth.
I’ll have mercy on No-Mercy.
I’ll say to Nobody, ‘You’re my dear Somebody,’
and he’ll say ‘You’re my God!’”
For Reflection
God never promises without following through. God promised once again to reset God's creation. God did not destroy and rebuild. God built upon what was good so that individual human righteousness was enabled. No longer would God primarily employ reward and punishment to correct God's people. Mosaic Law would stand as the guidepost of human behavior but now enhanced with the mercy of God and the divine compassion of Christ embedded in our souls.
God would marry each of us. We will never become a Nobody to God. We will always be a Somebody, a member of the household of God. God will plant in us the desire to become a willing collaborator in the realization of the Kingdom, the household of God, and give us Jesus to clarify the new covenant and seal the deal.
Pray
Pray and contemplate that you are a Somebody to God. Consider your status as a member of a loving and beloved family. Pray and listen to the Christ that abides in you. There is no greater joy and satisfaction than developing a personal relationship with the head of your divine family.
| 
