Sermon Snippet – Our Father’s Unfailing Love
INTRODUCTION – There are compelling reasons to read the Old Testament. Among them is the obvious fact that it is a major portion of God’s Word. Also, Jesus said that He came to fulfill the entire Old Testament (Matthew 5:17-18); we need to evaluate this absolute statement – and when we do consider it carefully, we will see that it is true. Furthermore, we learn about real people like us, people dealing with difficulties. Moreover, the Old Testament contains passages that reveal aspects of God’s character that are truly unique. One such section is Hosea 11:1-11.
1. GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE IS PICTURED IN HIS ROLE AS A HUSBANDMAN
Verse 4b says, “I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat [food] unto them.” The imagery is of a solicitous farmer not only providing for his stock but also exhibiting gentleness and kindness. Such an agricultural picture would have been easily relatable to the agrarian nation of Israel. Elsewhere, we find that God was their Shepherd (Psalm 23), and He still is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), the Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:4), and the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) – all designations of God the Son, Jesus Christ. His open invitation of Matthew 11:28-30 uses the specific symbolism of the “yoke” found in Hosea.
2. GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE IS PICTURED IN HIS ROLE AS A HUSBAND
Verse 4a is a picture of marital love: “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.” The background of Hosea is powerful and poignant: the prophet married a prostitute, who was unfaithful to him. Still, he loved her and pursued her. Even greater is God’s unfailing love for His failing people. John 6:44 affirms that He draws us to Himself in love, and Ephesians 5:22-32 and Revelation 19:7-9 present Jesus as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride.
3. GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE IS PICTURED IN HIS ROLE AS FATHER
Verse 3a is one of the most original images in all of Scripture: “I taught Ephraim [Israel] also to go [walk], taking them by their arms.” This sentence pictures God as Father, teaching His tottering people how to walk. I think of the line of a Gospel song that Linwood used to sing: “I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.” This tenderness is echoed in Luke 15:11-32. In this Parable of the Prodigal Son, we find our Father gazing out across His fields (note the agricultural background of this passage, as well) in hopeful expectation. Afar off, He sees His wayward child, knows exactly who it is, and runs – yes, runs! – to hug him and welcome him home. It is through faith in Jesus that we enter into this eternal embrace.
CONCLUSION – When we come to our Father, we do not need to be wearing a gold medal. We do not have to prove our worth by being valedictorian, or a life-saving hero or the researcher who discovers a cure for cancer. We do not need to carry our credentials into our Father’s presence; and, in fact, we cannot; for we cannot earn His affection. Instead, He draws us and runs to us. With reverence, I say that this is the only time in Scripture that we find God to be in a hurry, for He is urgent in His desire to save us from our sins and love us forever. May each of us be certain of this everlasting relationship by trusting in Jesus alone for His tender salvation.