The truth is we are all like the whore (Gomer) who Hosea married. We are constantly in pursuit of other lovers each of which is another attempt to bring some quick fix pleasure. Just as a whore seeks a thrill through sexual pleasure or through monetary gain we seek the quick fix relief by pursuing ways to sin more deeply. Whether it is through sex, money, desire to be liked, being a people pleaser, acting like the good church kid, judging others and saying their sins are worse than ours, pride thinking that we should get a pat on the back for being the one up front for leading music or teaching the bible study, doubting God, lacking in faith, false piety, pursuing knowledge for knowledge sake…the list goes on. All of these things are our “lovers” that we seek to make us feel better for the moment and never fill. Gomer was never satisfied with other lovers or the gifts she received from them. Gomer was representing the nation of Israel and their whoredom to their sins or “lovers”. All the great gifts that they received from other “lovers” where in fact gifts God allowed them to have. Gomer then loses everything and was stripped and exposed for the whore that she was.
It was after her shameful exposure that she was led to the wilderness and was shown a deeper love. She was led to the wilderness and was spoken to tenderly and her first love/husband was able to woe her once again. He knew her shame and loved her despite that. His love was deep and he was willing to pay a great price to buy her back because He loved her. But get this…money is nothing in comparison to the price that was paid to buy us back on the cross… Yet we deny our whoredom. But I pose this question to you– Do you think there is any value in having our whoredom exposed?
Tags: freedom in Jesus, sin
Yes, there is value in having our whoredom exposed–as long as it’s God doing the exposing! Hosea 2 is the Lord speaking–He is doing the exposing and the disciplining and the restoring.
Luke 6:37-42 (judging and the brother’s eye) should be weighed very heavily before the Lord in prayer, before exposing another’s sin– in balance with Matt. 18:15-17.
And, yes, we are called to be perfect: 2 Peter 3: 11-12, 1 Peter 1: 16, Lev. 11:44, 19:2, and 20:7–both testaments call us to be holy. The holiness of the Old Testament was through the Law, and as Chris showed us so well on Sunday, is impossible for us to accomplish. The holiness of the New Testament is through the Blood of the Lamb—and we are called to live in that holiness.
We are His bride, and He has restored us through His blood. We all will have to respond to that offered gift. The last verse of Hosea sums it up well:
“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right: the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
Great point Nancy!! Only if the Lord exposes it b/c HE alone is able to fix us and restore us. I love that HE alone knows the perfect timing and the perfect fire to burn off the dross. God knows each of our hearts and HE alone weights the heart and the motivation of each of us. He alone knows why we do “works” for Him, others or self. He alone will shows us where change needs to be made. I love that HE does this. He is the PERFECT good shepherd. The sheep know HIS voice….. I am learning more and more to STOP and listen to HIS voice. May HIS light shine bright.
Thought came to me also that God took her into the desert to expose her sin. He didn’t humiliate her in public or talk about her or all the other things we seem to turn to–rather than praying for others and graciously encouraging a turning toward God.
If God gives you discernment about others…. use it to pray for them….
While my answer won’t be as long or deep as the previous answers, I do agree with Nancy and Meri. I do think that we need our sins exposed, it makes us realize how much we need God. When we realize God is all we need and that we really do need Him, we will finally be happy and seek after nothing else. I also think that when God forgives us and we overcome stuff such as school/family issues, fear of relationships, habitual lying, fighting, self-esteem problems, addictions, or whatever other sins we struggle with, no matter how “big” or “small” they are, God will use those stories in our lives to bring others closer to Him. So, yes, we need to be exposed for what we are.
I agree with Meri and Nancy.
I grew up in a very strict independent Baptist church. The pastor made people stand in front of the congregation and confess their sin and apologize, but only if a girl got pregnant or a spouse had an affair. I never understood that. Why only the “big” sins or the ones that were noticeable? I always felt if you were going to make those people do that then why not everyone no matter what the sin? If we sin should we have to appoligize to everyone? or just to God and the ones you’ve hurt?