THE DIVINE BETROTHAL

Hosea 2:1

A. "And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and In mercy."
  1. You will note that this is one of many of God's appeals to the church:
    1. To be loyal and devoted to Him
    2. He is so attached to the church, that he does not hesitate to unfold His plans to and for her
  2. God's motive and His attitude are based upon His love to His children:
    1. God did not love Israel because of her loveliness--because she was guilty of spiritual adultery
    2. Wrote John: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us" - I John 4:10
    3. Paul declares: "Even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" - Rom. 5:8 B. THE DIVINE BETROTHAL
  3. The manner of this Betrothal:
    1. Betrothal is always a delicate business, and should be done on just and sacred principles; and so it is with God
    2. "In Righteousness" - in a manner that is consistent with His character and our real need
    3. He must be just to be a trustworthy Saviour - Is. 45:21. This betrothal is in perfect accord with the holiness of God, and it will be faultless in all eternity
    4. In Judgment--The betrothed is presently guilty, unclean, and deep in debt
    5. How is she to be cleansed and freed from debt? Her sin need to be brought into judgment and dealt with - 2 Cor. 5:10
    6. In Lovingkindness--Here we find God's approach to the one that is unclean and deeply in debt. He deals with her not as she deserves, but in lovingkindness - Eph. 2:7,8; Phil. 4:19
    7. In Faithfulness--"My covenant will I not break" - Ps. 89:34; "I am the God of Jacob, that changing and doubtful one" -- "but I change not" - Mal. 3:6
  4. The purpose of this Betrothal:
    1. It is in prospect of marriage - Eternal Union
    2. Promised the Lord: "Fear not: For I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west." - Is. 43:4-7 C. THE BLESSINGS OF THIS DIVINE BETROTHAL
  5. That we might know Him--"Thou shalt know the Lord" - Hosea 2:20
    1. "And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" - John 17:3
    2. For us to love God we must learn to know His unspeakable love - Jeremiah. 24:7
  6. That we might belong to Him:
    1. "Thou shalt not be for another. So will I also be for thee" - Hosea 3:3
    2. It is impossible to serve two masters, we must be totally for one or the other: Examples--Ancient Israel attempted to serve God and Baal at the same time - I Kings 18:21; That is the basis of the religion of the Samaritans - 2 Kings 17:41
    3. Jesus said: "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon" - Matt. 6:24
  7. That we might confess Him:
    1. "They shall say, Thou art my God" - Hosea 2:23
    2. Our Saviour placed great emphasis upon us confessing Him before men - Compare Matt. 10:32 with Luke 12:8; I John 4:2
  8. That we might become Co-Workers with God:
    1. The wife becomes "a helpmeet" to her husband in marriage - Gen. 2:18-19
    2. When we become married to the Lord, we become co-workers with God - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
    3. We come to the place when we will say, as Soul of Tarsus did, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" - Acts 9:6
    4. We will say, as did the prophet Isaiah, "Here am I; send me" - Is. 6:8
  9. What a wonderful lesson for us today:
    1. God's betrothal to us
    2. This in spite of our unfaithfulness, -- our sinfulness, our ugliness!
    3. How wonderful it is to know the God of Jacob and a measure of His lovingkindness to the children of men
    4. Dear soul, have you experienced in Divine Betrothal? - In Baptism, at the Lord's Supper, in the secret closet?
    5. How can we be indifferent to the Divine appeal of mercy?


Design © John Bryant 2011