God’s Attributes part 6
“Love Is Hard”
Pastor David Moore
Attributes Reviewed
∙ Knowability: God wants to be known by humanity
∙ Supremacy: God wants nothing between us and Him (idols)
∙ Holiness: We often forget God’s holiness, except when we think of the Cross only as God could have went to the Cross for our sins.
∙ Power: God can do all things; His power will be our shield and defense.
∙ Trustworthy: God will deliver on His promise.
Old Testament reading: Hosea 3:1‐5
The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer (a biblical unit of volume used for liquids and dry goods) and a lethek (a former Hebrew measure of dry volume, equal to about 115 L or 3¼ bushels) of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”
For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to His blessings in the last days.
Old Testament reading: Hosea 11:1‐11
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.
“Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. They will follow the Lord; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west. They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
This week, the theme is love. The most popular attribute of God.
Three important concepts from the Scripture about love:
1. God’s love is sophisticated.
2. We lose sight of God’s involvement in love in our relationships.
3. We can only understand God’s love by being vulnerable to others.
There is a cost to love; it can be cheap or at great cost.
Jude 1:24
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
Zephaniah 3:14‐20
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
“I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
Today, and this week, think about the story of Gomer and Hosea. Meditate on God’s love played out in this story. Think about the different aspects of God’s love, sophistication, cost, and vulnerability of it. If we live in God’s love, the impact around us will begin to transform people in our lives.
God bless, continue to bask in God’s love!