Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2

"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD."

I couldn't understand why the Lord would tell Hosea to take a wife of whoredoms. Then I read the header and it says "Hosea and his family are a sign unto Israel". Hosea is the only prophet of the northern kingdom that left written prophecies. I imagine with the moral decay of the northern kingdom there wasn't many righteous women to pick from. The footnote for wife leads me to these verses.

"Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee."

(Hosea 3:1-3)

Hosea's wife was unfaithful by looking to other gods, but had a good heart. It appears he asks for fidelity in the marriage and to their God. That is what the Lord kept calling Israel back to do.

Day 3022