Hosea is the story of God’s broken heart over man’s sin. Moses brought God’s covenant down from Sinai and all God’s people acknowledged it. At the end of Deuteronomy we see the nation saying “I do” as Moses read the moral laws to the people. But, people are not faithful to their promises as God is. They broke every one of the 10 commandments. In Hosea 4, God points out specifically how the Israelites have violated the 10 commandments and broke their marriage covenant with God. Verses 1 & 2 say, “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
Notice the perfect alignment with the 10 commandments in this passage. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in Vain. Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Then the summary statement that God’s people have stepped outside of all God’s instructions for a healthy, happy, and wholesome life. They are completely unfaithful. In contrast, God is always completely faithful.
Psalm 136 has 21 verses and every verse ends with the statement. “for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 103 says, “as far as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s steadfast love.” A California newspaper carried a story about a discovery made by astronomers. The scientists picked up radio signals from a body in space that they estimated to be fifty million light years from the earth. Prior to that, the most distant object known was ten million light years from earth. Distances such as those are beyond our comprehension, but illustrate well the infinite boundaries of God’s steadfast love. In contrast to man’s love, God’s love has no boundaries!
Chuck
“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26