The Cost of Restoration – Hosea 3
Introduction: In this chapter Hosea compares his own marriage to the marriage of Israel (any nation) to the harlot known as idolatry (secularism, etc.)
God tells Hosea the following things that will be the cost of seeing the land restored.
First, you are to love her again even though she has lived in adultery. In fact she has worshipped the idols of the nation and eaten the raisin cakes. (Raisin cakes were used in temple prostitution.) This means that she (the nation) has loved the ways of the world and has tasted the fruit of materialism. She has been drawn to the desire to have more. (v. 1) Restoration of a nation will be done by a people who love the nation unconditionally.
Second, you are to redeem her for whatever the price is. Hosea had to pay 15 shekels (about 6 ounces) in silver and a homer and a half (about 430 pounds) to redeem (pay the price of taking her out of the life of prostitution). To Hosea this was a heavy price and likely took all that he had to redeem her. This is the same kind of price that a nation will have to pay for the redemption of the nation. (v. 2) Restoration of a nation will exact a heavy price for those wanting to see it restored.
Third, after she has been redeemed Hosea told her that she could not be a harlot anymore and that he would not have sex with her. After redemption the participants will have to give up the very thing that they love most for a time. This is fasting. (v. 3) Restoration comes when His people give up what they love best by fasting it.
Fourth, when the restoration process is going on, the nation will be without leadership. (King or prince) This will be a most difficult time for the nation. Yet it is necessary. (v. 4a) Restoration of a nation comes after a time of leaderlessness because God wants to rise up the leaders.
Fifth, in the restoration process there will be no formal religious things. (Hosea says there will be no sacrifice or sacred pillar or ephod or household gods.) In other words all objects of religion will be gone. This is so that God can start with a fresh slate. (v. 4b) Restoration comes with a time of the lack of formalized and centralized religion. A take on this will be that the house church will become prominent and that there will be limited or no central church structure. (A prophet friend of mine told me this.)
Sixth, after this time of no national leadership or religious leadership the people of the nation will return to God. Not in a half-baked way but with a deepness. The will seek Him. Seeking God means that they will have an active and continuous pursuit of God until they find Him. (v. 5a) Restoration will come when there is national repentance.
Seventh, the people of the nation will come to God with trembling (quaking, fear, guilt, etc.). Then God will supply them with His goodness until the end of days. This implies a great revival in the land. That would be a third great awakening. (v. 5b) Restoration comes after a national repentance and revival.
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