I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

From the outside their life seems ideal. The house is beautiful, the kids are sweet, and they are an attractive pair. But inside their home, things are far from ideal. The wife has an addiction, and nothing seems to help. Yet, her husband continues to love and help his wife, despite her failures.

Such love and care are not original. The biblical prophet Hosea was commissioned to show such love to his wayward wife to display God’s covenant-keeping care for the habitually sinful people of Israel.

God loved, and kept loving, sinful people to show us that his grace is not dependent on our performance. Now, we who have received such grace are also called to show it – even to those who have damaged and disappointed us.

Hosea and this modern husband fulfill their biblical calling by turning a deaf ear to the voices of friends and family telling them to abandon their marriages and to move on to better wives. As a covenant-keeping God has loved us, we love.

Prayer: Lord, even though I have been unfaithful to you in many ways, thank you for betrothing yourself to me with covenant-keeping love. Help me so to respond in gratitude and obedience for those you call me to love.