He Will Answer the Heavens
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Hosea 2:16-23
16. "And in that day, says the Lord, you will call me, `My husband,' and no longer will you call me, `My Baal.' 17. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. 18. And I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. 19. And I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord. 21. "And in that day, says the Lord, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth; 22. and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel; 23. and I will sow him for myself in the land. And I will have pity on Not pitied, and I will say to Not my people, `You are my people'; and he shall say `Thou art my God.'"
I never cease to be amazed at the poetic language in the Old Testament. I think these verses are just beautiful! I found this passage as a reference to a New Testament verse I was reading : 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.”
These verses describe the deeper more intimate relationship God longs to have with man. His deepest desire is for us to grow into a loving, intimate, deep and abiding relationship with Him. He wants to be viewed no longer as an inanimate, demanding god, but now as a beloved partner with him. He aches for us to know and love him as one would a spouse or a lifelong friend--the way I can “read my husband’s mind” sometimes after 30+ years together, or think to myself, “I wish he were here,” when I watch a movie I know he’d like or have an experience I realize would be so much better if I shared it with him.
God wants to be “one” with us. He wants himself and us to be interwoven and intertwined as we minister to His world. He assures us He will not leave us alone. He will not abandon us. He will comfort us and care for us. He will love us. His plan also our greatest hope and longing: “And I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. 19. And I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.”
I can hardly wait for the day that God answers the heavens; and heavens answer the earth. But most of all I long so for a world of perfection. God promises us “And I will have pity on Not pitied, and I will say to Not my people, `You are my people'; and he shall say `Thou art my God.'" I can hardly wait!
Technical difficulties previously mentioned yesterday -- probably a good thing as I was in a rather foul mood! Yes, it happens! As the day progressed I improved in temperament and mood as I had to give it all up to God. And as we know, he never disappoints! After all, he has pity on “not pitied.”
I hope today you take comfort in knowing the God of heaven is also God of the earth. And that he hears you when you call out to him.
Mary
