There are 2 types of call—general and specific. There is the general call among the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;1 those loved by God and called to be saints.2 Then there is the specific call to an office—Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus called to be an apostle set apart for the gospel of God.3 It is through Jesus Christ that we receive grace to bring about obedience of faith.4 Thus, believing we are called saints.5
Hosea was known as the “death-bed prophet of Israel.”6 When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, he said, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.”7 So he took Gomer. And she bore him three children—Jezreel, for God was about to punish the house of Jehu; No Mercy, for God shall have no more mercy on Israel . . .; Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.8 Yet, Gomer continued to live the life of a whore just like the children of Israel. And the LORD said to Hosea, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, . . .” So Hosea redeemed her. And said, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.”9 Through Hosea and Gomer, God wanted to illustrate that no matter how unfaithful we are, God remains faithful.
Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.10 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.11 In marriage husband and wife exchange a covenant vow, just as Jesus Christ is a covenant keeping husband to his bride the church.
Notes:
1. Romans 1:6
2. Romans 1:7
3. Romans 1:1
4. Romans 1:5
5. Ephesians 1:1
6. ESV, Introduction to Hosea
7. Hosea 1:2
8. Hosea 1:3-9
9. Hosea 3:1-3
10. Hosea 3:5
11. Ephesians 5:29-33
