Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 36
24
IMMERSE
•
PROPHETS
2:21–4:2
“In that day, I will answer,”
says the Lord.
“I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds.
And the sky will answer the earth with rain.
Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’
At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites
and raise them for myself.
I will show love
to those I called ‘Not loved.’
And to those I called ‘Not my people,’
I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’
And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”
Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she
commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord
still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and
love to worship them.”
So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley
and a measure of wine. Then I said to her, “You must live in my house for
many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have
sexual relations with anyone, not even with me.”
This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and
without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests, or even idols! But afterward the
people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to
David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of
the Lord and of his goodness.
Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!
The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:
“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
no knowledge of God in your land.
You make vows and break them;
you kill and steal and commit adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
one murder after another.
