"The typical promise, "Thou shalt abide for Me many days" (Hosea 3:3)
is indeed a marvel of love. For it is given to the most undeserving,
described under the strongest possible figure of utter worthlessness
and treacherousness-the woman beloved, yet an adulteress.
The depth of the abyss shows the length of the line that has
fathomed it, yet only the length of the line reveals the
real depth of the abyss. The sin shows the love and the love
reveals the sin. The Bible has few words more touching,
though seldom quoted, than those just preceding this
wonderful promise: "The love of the Lord toward the
children of Israel, who look to other gods and love
flagons of wine." ( Hosea 3:1).
Put that into personal application which no doubt underlies it
and this Scripture teaches, "The love of the Lord towards me,
who hath looked away from Him, with wandering, faithless eyes,
to other helps and hopes, and loved earthly joys and sought
earthly gratifications-the love of the Lord toward even me!"
And then hear Him saying in the next verse, "So I bought her to me." (3:2)
stooping to do that in His unspeakable condescension of love, not with
the typical silver and barley, but with the precious blood of Christ.
Then, having thus loved us, and rescued us, and bought us with
a price indeed, He says, still under the same figure,
"Thou shalt abide with Me many days."
This is both a command and a pledge. But the very pledge implies
our past unfaithfulness, and the proved need of even our own part
being undertaken by the ever patient Lord.
He Himself has to guarantee our faithfulness, because there is
no other hope of our continuing faithful. Well may such love
win our full and glad surrender, and such a promise win
our happy and confident trust!"
An excerpt from the chapter,
"Christ For Us"
Taken from the book,
"Kept For The Master's Use
The Life Fully Devoted To God."
(1879)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English Christian hymn writer
and devotional author.
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