I will betroth you to me. (Hosea 2:19)

Three times in two verses, the Lord says, “I will betroth you to me.” Some commentators believe that this reflects the involvement and commitment of each Person of the Godhead in this betrothal. In other words, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are each saying, “I will betroth you to me.” It is, however, more likely that the threefold repetition of “I will betroth you” is for emphasis. It emphasizes the eagerness of the Lord to unite with those who have divorced Him and are now separated from Him. Israel did the separating, but God does the uniting.

Betrothal went further than the courtship alluring of verse 14. It was also more decisive than our Western ideas of engagement. Betrothal involved handing over a bride-price to the young lady’s father, whose acceptance of it finalized the commitment. Sometimes, especially if there was no living father, the bride-price was passed to the bride herself. This is what we have here: the Lord comes to betroth His bride to Himself with a six-fold bride-price of foreverness, righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, mercies, and faithfulness.

What is different here is that the proposer is already married to the bride-to-be! The Lord was already in covenant union with Israel. But Israel had divorced Him by covenant disobedience. Yet the Lord comes and proposes all over again. In effect, He is saying, “Let’s start over. You will be as a virgin-bride to me, as though you had never committed any unfaithfulness to me. Let us enjoy the warmth of a new beginning with all the freshness of first love.”

Unfaithful Christian, distant “divorcee” full of regrets, you long to return to your Lord, yet fear that your relationship with Him will never fully recover and be as it once was. Listen to what He says as He graciously proposes all over again: “I will betroth you to me.” Come then and start afresh with all the excitement and thrill of first love. Your relationship can recover. It can be the same again—yes, even better than before. And if you doubt His sincerity, look at the six-fold bride-price He is offering you: foreverness, righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, mercies, and faithfulness.

Blogs

Donald Trump’s ‘Born-Again’ Conversion to Christianity: James Dobson and Paula White’s Claims | The Atlantic
This is sad. Whatever we think of Trump, no one wants to see him deceived by easy-believism.

“Evangelicals sing of conversion as being ‘washed in the blood of the Lamb,’ but Dobson’s attempt is more akin to a whitewashing.”

This Infographic Lists 128 Words You Can Use Instead of “Very” | Kristin Wong, LifeHacker
This is very good.

“Our English teachers told us to avoid the word “very” because it’s weak and vague. They were right, and many times, we use “very” as a modifier for a word that could easily be replaced with a stronger, more accurate word. This infographic tells you what to use instead.”

Now Available: Visual Theology Presentation Slides | Tim Challies
Tim Challies Visual Theology Presentation Slides to accompany the book. Super-helpful for teaching a youth group or Sunday school class.

Christian Pessimism, Christian Realism | Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
“Overreacting and falling into paranoia and loathing is a temptation. But so is assuming everything’s going to be okay in the end, and believing that you can avoid trouble by being nice. Sooner or later, you are going to have to take a stand — and if you stand on Christian orthodoxy, you are going to be knocked flat.”

The Difference Between a Sin and a Mistake | Michael Hyatt
“When people refer to this kind of behavior as a mistake rather than a sin, they are either consciously or unconsciously evading responsibility—even while they claim to accept responsibility. Why? Because of the fundamental difference between the two terms. Many people assume they are synonymous. They’re not.”

From the RPCNA Synod | Jared Olivetti, Gentle Reformation
“Without giving a full update, I thought I might mention a few encouraging blessings God has given this week. ”

New Book

Unshakable: Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture by K. Scott Oliphint and Rod Mays

Kindle Deals

For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.

Coming to Grips with Genesis edited by Terry Mortenson and Thane H. Ury ($2.99)

The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible by Dr. William H. Marty and Dr. Boyd Seevers ($1.99)

The Cross and Christian Ministry: An Exposition of Passages from 1 Corinthians by D. A. Carson ($1.99)

The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America by James Bamford ($1.99)

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field. (Hosea 2:18)

The lions ravage us, the sparrows flee us, and the scorpions bite us. All these things are against us. Fear and hostility pervade the whole creation. How different from Genesis 1:28: “And God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” What a contrast to Genesis 1:31: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Lions, sparrows, scorpions, man, and woman—the whole creation and every creature—lived in perfect “matrimonial” harmony.

What happened? One sin. One sin divorced us from the creation, from one another, and from God. Hatred, fear, suspicion, and hostility fill the air and every heart. We run after one another and from one another. Every barking dog, every roaring lion, every hissing serpent on this earthly realm reminds us of the discord, division, and divorce that exist in the spiritual realm. Does this grieve you? Do you hate the sin that has caused it all, and groan with the whole creation for deliverance (Rom. 8:19–23)?

Exiled Israel longed to return home. But the people were deterred by the frightening wild animals and warring nomads that had filled the land in their absence. So, here God reassures them, “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and I will make them to lie down safely.” God covenants to create conditions of peace and safety.

All this is but a pale shadow of what God will ultimately and climactically do in the final “new heavens and the new earth, in which dwells righteousness” (2 Pet. 3:13). God has made an unbreakable covenant to reverse the estranging and acrimonious effects of sin. And when God covenants to do something, it will be done. He cannot lie or break His promise. Fellow creature of God, will you be among those who He “will make to lie down safely?” Or will you know enmity-filled eternal separation and division?

Blogs

People Who Value Time Over Money Are Happier | Kristin Wong, LifeHacker
“Across studies, we asked thousands of Americans whether they would prefer more money or more time. Although the majority of people chose more money, choosing more time was associated with greater happiness”

Generosity Is More Than Money | James Clark, Institute for Faith, Works, and Economics
Although we can give much more than money to the Lord, money should not come last.

Reflections from a Black Presbyterian on the PCA’s Overture on Racial Reconciliation | Jemar Tisby, Reformed African American Network
“Here are a five reflections on the overture on racial reconciliation I have as a black member of the Presbyterian Church in America.”

5 Reasons Why Teenagers Need Theology | Jaquelle Crow, TGC
“I’m 18. I’ve studied and been taught theology all my life. It’s given me many things: a richer relationship with God; a stronger and more submissive relationship with my parents; a more discerning relationship with my friends; a more edifying approach to social media; a zealous desire to do my best in school; a biblical worldview; a bigger vision for my future; and a greater passion to follow God no matter what. I want that life for every teenager, and I think you do, too. So parents, pastors, youth leaders, church members, please teach us theology.”

7 Lies We Tell Our Children | Barnabas Piper, The Blazing Center
“We all lie to our kids. Sometimes it’s on purpose and for what we deem a good purpose. Sometimes it’s because we so want them to believe something, to feel better, to overcome a challenge, or to work through pain that we will say anything to try to help. Sometimes it’s because we’re idiots and just don’t realize what we’re doing. Here are seven of the most common lies parents tell kids.”

When A Christian Feels Dry: A Simple Practice | Jason Helopoulos, The Christward Collective
“If you know life in Christ, you know languishing in Christ. We all go through dry seasons. The Christian life is never lived from mountain top to mountain top. Every saint has known lackluster days in relationship with the Lord. God doesn’t feel close. You have His peace, but are not peaceful. You know His love, but are not enjoying His love. Your spiritual life isn’t dead, but it is dull. What is the answer?”

Manipulative Ministers | Joseph Franks, Daily Devotions
“Friends, do not assume that because men are disciples, priests, pastors, or elders they are servant-hearted and Christ-centered. There have always been manipulative ministers in the religious circles of Jesus Christ.”

Watch Brexit Architect Nigel Farage Eviscerate The EU | Sean Davis, The Federalist
“If you want to know why millions of United Kingdom voters decided to leave the European Union (EU), then you need to watch this video. You need to see how EU’s unaccountable politicians respond to the British decision to leave the EU. Watch Nigel Farage, the British politician and former trader widely characterized as the architect of the Brexit referendum, eviscerate the EU bureaucrats on their home court.”

New Book 

Unashamed – Candid Conversations About Dating, Love, Nakedness and Faith by Tracy Levinson

Kindle Deals

For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.

The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White ($1.99)

Experiencing Leadershift: Letting Go of Leadership Heresies by Don Cousins ($0.99)

How the States Got Their Shapes by Mark Stein ($1.99)

Video

Supreme Court refuses to defend religious liberty for pharmacists | Denny Burk

It’s not available until next March but I wanted to share with you news of a book I’m writing for Crossway. It’s a book for men that has grown out of my counseling ministry to Christian men, and especially pastors, who have been suffering at various points on the spectrum of Stress > Anxiety > Burnout > Depression.  Here’s how the Amazon blurb puts it:

Largely due to overwork and the stresses of modern life, men in work and ministry are increasingly run-down, anxious, and depressed. But is this level of physical and spiritual weariness inevitable? Just as a car needs to be regularly refueled, retuned, and repaired in order to keep running, a balanced life can be sustained only when a man takes proper steps to stay on track. In this hopeful book, experienced pastor and counselor David Murray shares stories from his own life and the lives of friends, offering gospel-centered advice for avoiding, assessing, and recovering from burnout. With chapters on rest, relationships, routines, and more, this book lays out a host of practical remedies men can use to reset their lives on a more sustainable course—resulting in renewed energy, joy, and purpose.

Why just men? Don’t worry, there will be a sequel for women too that I’m writing with my wife Shona (or that she’s writing with me, I think I should say!)

I’m devoting the next few weeks to working on a project that’s going to demand most of my mental energy. So apart from the usual Mon-Fri Checkout which will continue, I won’t be writing an additional daily article. Instead, I’m going to post a series of daily devotionals on Hosea that I wrote a few years ago.

I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth. (Hosea 2:17)

God’s Old Testament people were taught so many of God’s names: Jehovah-jireh (the Lord who provides), Jehovah-nissi (the Lord our banner), Jehovah Rophi (the Lord who heals), Jehovah Ra-ah (the Lord who sees), etc. They had been entrusted with so many profound and precious divine names.

And yet, what names did they take up in their lips but the names of Baalim (“lords”), the names of the heathen gods and deities. They forsook the name of the one Lord and spoke the name of many lords. As God listened to Israel day by day, it was not His own name He heard but rather those of false gods.

Despite this, here God promises that He will one day come and take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth. He will do it, and it will happen. The names of heathen gods which dominated their conversation and even their worship would be heard no more. God will put a new song in their mouth to magnify Him. It may seem impossible. How can Israel break the habit? How can they simply stop what they had gotten so used to doing? The great secret is in the divine “I will.”

Was there not a time, Christian, when your mouth was full of the names of Baalim? Despite your godly upbringing, your conversation was full of the Baalim of this world. You spoke of football and baseball, of supermodels and singers, of celebrities and millionaires. These were your lords, your Baalim. When God came down to listen for His name in your life and home, all He heard were the names of Baalim. Where was the name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every name?

But God, who is rich in mercy, came down to your mouth and took away the names of Baalim. You have no interest in them anymore. You don’t want to talk about them anymore (Ps. 16:4). Instead, the precious names of the Lord are your meat and drink.

And what if your mouth is still full of Baalim? Bring your mouth to God and say, “I can’t stop this. I can’t save myself. Come and take away the names of Baalim out of my mouth. Take away the lords and make me confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”