Hosea 1-3; Am I A Gomer?
Steven Haguewood
God's prophet Hosea was commanded to marry a harlot (1:2). He was told to marry a prostitute and have children with her, children of harlotry. The first child was named Jezreel because of the things that went on in that city. Jehu, who was about to crumble himself, purged Ahab’s rule. The next child was named Lo-ruhamah, which means “one who is not pitied.” The third was named Lo-ammi meaning “not my people.”
There is an interesting parallel drawn by Hosea, Gomer, and their children. First, notice the harlotry. Gomer was a harlot. Even though she bore Hosea at least one child, we do not know that the other two even belonged to Hosea. Of Jezreel, it is said that she "Bore him a son.” (1:3). Of the other two children, we are only told that she conceived and bore a daughter and a son. These two may very well have been the result of her harlotry. Whatever the case with the children, Gomer was not faithful to Hosea. She had several others in her life and tested Hosea's love and patience. According to the law, Hosea had every right to put his wife away for infidelity. Nevertheless, he remained patient, even with the one of no pity and the one who was "not my people." At the end, Hosea wanted to keep his wife, but she needed to undergo some purification and cleansing and then be his wife again.
The parallels with Israel are striking. They had left their first love to become spiritual harlots. They went chasing after idols and worshiping things other than God. God said that they were to be punished. They would be brought down for disrespecting Him. They would be shown no pity but would suffer Lo-ruhamah. They would be as if they were not His people because they had left Him, Lo-ammi. They would be separated from Him and then be reconciled. They would undergo a time of purification in which they would have no king or sacrifice or pillar or ephod. However, God's grace and patience would be extended. If they would come back, He would accept them.
Are we Gomers, now? Am I following God's desires for me in my life, or am I a spiritual harlot? If we allow other things to stand in the way of our spirituality, we are spiritual prostitutes – Gomers. We are allowing that separation from God that leaves us with no pity, Lo-ruhamah. We are separating ourselves from Him, and He will say that we are not His people, Lo-ammi. We are asking for the punishment as seen in Jezreel. We must know that God's grace and patience are extended to us, but we must first be cleansed. We, as His unfaithful people, find that cleansing in repentance. This is when we turn our lives from the old path of sin and seek God's ways. Give yourself to Him and He will accept you. –1301 West Virginia Ave., Parkersburg, WV 26104-1725.