JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL
Today’s Reading – Psalms 46 – 50 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 1 – 3; Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Scripture Memorization for June – Verses Supporting an Unlimited Atonement
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32 (slower version)
Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “Everyday Legacy“
Read the “0625 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
A Study Of Women In The Bible
Gomer, Loved By Her Husband Hosea
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.” (Hosea 1:2-3)
Last week we studied Leah, a woman who was unloved by her husband and stayed trued to him. Today we’re going to take a look at Gomer who was loved by her husband and was unfaithful.
It almost seems strange that God would ask a prophet to marry a faithless harlot. But God had a plan. He wanted to show Israel just what their unfaithfulness to Him looked like. So He gave His people a practical view of it by having the prophet marry a woman who would seek out other men and bear illegitimate children.
Gomer gave birth to Jezreel, which means God scatters; Lo-Ruhamah, which means not loved; and Lo-Ammi, that means not my people. Sometime after, following their birth, Gomer left her husband to live as a prostitute. After all her wild living, Gomer ended up a slave. But God commanded the prophet to love her again. Hosea was obedient to God and brought her back just as Jesus brought us out of our sin.
This past Saturday night, my husband and I went to see Cirque du Soleil in Camden, NJ. After the show we decided to ride past the home we owned in the Gloucester City, the next town over. Instead of traveling on the main highway, we went through the center of Camden. The sights were as sad as they were last time we were there. We passed several prostitutes. Then at a red light, I noticed a woman walking on the other side of the road where another car was coming from the opposit way of us. Needless to say she got in the car. This was not the first time I saw this, but this time I was angry. I could not get the thought out of my mind. Why would someone do that? I wanted to stop their car, pull her out, and smack the two guys upside the head (in a Christ like way). The more I thought about the question “Why?”, the more I realized it was because of love. There was a lack of love in her life somewhere. Yes maybe she was trying to get money for drugs or liquor, but when you come right down to it, it was love she was craving. People try to satisfy love with sex, crime, overspending, not loving self, and the list goes on. Because of the lack of love a person can become lonely, angry, critical, absorbed with self; or they try to buy love. There is nothing that can take the place of love. Where do we find this love? Jesus Christ. Only He can satisfy the true love we crave. When we look to him for love He will heal our hurting heart. He will build in us self worth. We will feel complete. We will begin to love others and forgive those who may have wronged us. Only His love will empower us to develop an intimate relationship with others and to serve them. Love is an unselfish sacrificial giving of one’s self. Hosea was like that. Inspite of what his wife did, he still loved her and took her back as the Lord asked him to do. But you ask why did Gomer go in the wrong direction and then stay there? Some people feel unworthy to be loved. Remember she came from a heathen nation. Maybe she felt unloved by the people around her. Many times people who are in a bad situation stay there because they feel stuck. They feel as if there is no way out, and they’ll do anything to be accepted.
Time is short. The return of Christ for His bride is near. I believe a great revival will take place and our churches will be filled with the “unloveables”. Busses will be full of little ones who’ll write in or tear out pages in the song books. They’ll throw paper on the floor or stop up the bathroom bowl. They’ll be disrespectful to an adult or pick a fight with their classmate. They’ll be the ones who never heard a parent say “I love you”. Maybe that was Gomer.
Will you share a little love with someone? Will you take the time to point someone to our Lord and Saviour no matter who they are?
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Amen. That is probably just the reason that the world is the way it is now. No thanks to Women’s lib of the 60’s which encouraged women to become restless and dissatisfied with the God given task of having children and raising them to glorify their heavenly father. They sought careers thinking that this would satisfy them. I think this is when the shift occurred in the desire to acquire things. Since mom’s no longer had the time to spend with their children or were to tired after working all day they began substituting things for love. Kids have too much in the way of things today. It is sad that so many moms have to work now. It has become so difficult to stay home now even if you want to. Strangers are often left to raise children. It is no wonder why so many don’t feel loved. Then you could get on the topic of divorce and how that impacts the lives of children or teen moms struggling to raise kids when daddy wants nothing to do with a child he helped to bring into the world. Very sad. Pointing them to the love of Jesus is the only thing that will help and the only love that will satisfy.