“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, I will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.” (vv.14-15).
Back in chapter 1 we saw Israel’s sin portrayed as an adulterous wife. And here in the beginning of chapter 2, God again paints Israel as an adulterous wife, but one who is no longer worthy to be compared to a wife. This shows that the relationship (between God and Israel), was dramatically broken.
Israel then tries to justify her harlotry (vv.4-5), but God said, “I will hedge up your path way with thorns” (vv.6-8). Meaning, every time Israel went off the correct path, God would place a “hedge of thorns” in their way, to drive them back to the path of restoration.
Despite it all, Israel enjoyed great prosperity during the time of Jeroboam II. But she used her prosperity for idolatry and the pursuit of ungodly pleasures, so God would take away her prosperity (Judgment). And, as Israel felt her need and deprivation, perhaps she would then turn back to the LORD (vv.9-13).
When our relationship with the LORD is where it is supposed to be, our needs have a way of working out. This is the same principle Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Look to Him in all things brothers and sisters and your cup will never run dry.
The Truth: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
Back in chapter 1 we saw Israel’s sin portrayed as an adulterous wife. And here in the beginning of chapter 2, God again paints Israel as an adulterous wife, but one who is no longer worthy to be compared to a wife. This shows that the relationship (between God and Israel), was dramatically broken.
Israel then tries to justify her harlotry (vv.4-5), but God said, “I will hedge up your path way with thorns” (vv.6-8). Meaning, every time Israel went off the correct path, God would place a “hedge of thorns” in their way, to drive them back to the path of restoration.
Despite it all, Israel enjoyed great prosperity during the time of Jeroboam II. But she used her prosperity for idolatry and the pursuit of ungodly pleasures, so God would take away her prosperity (Judgment). And, as Israel felt her need and deprivation, perhaps she would then turn back to the LORD (vv.9-13).
When our relationship with the LORD is where it is supposed to be, our needs have a way of working out. This is the same principle Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Look to Him in all things brothers and sisters and your cup will never run dry.
The Truth: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
