She Laughs. She Prays.

When responding to God's love, the only option is the life of hot passionate pursuit of God, a zealous love for our Creator who is zealous for us. The Hebrew word for this love is "hesed." "Zealous love" can be defined as 1) Unfailing and unfeigned adoration of another. 2) Hot, passionate pursuit of another.

To understand God's love for us on a more personal level, I have three questions for us to consider: First, “What does zealous love look like?" Try to picture a sold out, searching after Him and desiring -only- Him love for God. Use all your senses to get a wider, more poignant view of this love-His love for you.

Next, think about, “What hinders your zealous love for God?” Is there anything in your life now or in your past that might be hindering your zealous love for the King of Kings?

And last, “What changes can you make to accentuate your zealous love of our Savior?”

As we consider these three questions I’d like to gain insight from the lives of two women: the Beloved in Song of Solomon and Gomer in Hosea.

The Beloved lives wholeheartedly for the service of King Solomon. She zealously pursues her lover. He is undoubtedly her first love. Her love for him is fresh and new. She’s a voracious and avid fan of her lover. Their love is fruitful, and her zeal evident.

Hosea is the story of unfailing love. Hosea at the command of God demonstrated his love for Gomer, a prostitute who by Jewish religious laws deserved to be stoned. He didn’t love her for her beauty, but for the beauty God saw in her. Gomer didn’t understand this love. Her heart was damaged and in flux. She had given it away to so many lovers. But Hosea spoke softly to her heart, he wooed her with words of unfailing love. He eventually unzipped the zealous love locked up inside her.

Zealous is His Name

“For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14, NIV).” Old Testament Hebrew has many nuances that doesn’t always mean the same when translated into modern English. I’d like you to consider the following change of this text:

“For the Lord, whose name is Zealous, is a zealous God (Exodus 34:14)

The Hebrew words for “zealous” and “jealous” share the same derivative or root word, Qana. Often they are used interchangeably throughout the Bible. The word jealous is only used six times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Often the word jealous is used in conjunction with the judgment of God. That is the major difference the writers made when choosing whether to use jealous or zealous. As modern day Americans trying to understand an ancient text, it might help us to place zealous in these Scriptures where the translations use jealous. It would leave us with a clearer understanding of the character of God.

God’s pursuit of us is pure and holy. These two words were used in an 1800’s sermon given by C. H. Spurgeon. He said, “God’s jealousy is a holy and pure flame.” I think if we replaced jealousy with zealousness, this would describe the flame that burns within us when we are in hot pursuit of God. So, an accurate description or picture of zealous love could be that flame burning within us. Have you felt that flame in relationship to God? Can you define or describe that flame within you? Can you remember a time when you were in hot pursuit of God?

Zeal Quenched

We remembered back to times when we were in hot pursuit of God. Now I’d like each of us to honestly look at our current zeal. If I had a zealometer, would your zeal measure in the red hot zone or closer to the Alaskan winter temps? In my life there are many things that I find quench my zeal for God. In the past I worked in schools and now I work for the Alaska State Legislature when its in session. Often, I complain to God about how much closer I would be to Him if I didn’t have that job. I think for women busy with careers, we can allow the business of life to steal our zeal.

I was a stay-at-home Mom for ten years. At that time, I found a crying infant and a howling toddler often stole my zeal. I can’t count the number of laps I made up and down the church hallways walking and carrying children who God didn’t create to sit in church pews. But I do know that if I wasn’t careful, if I let anger, impatience, jealousy, self-pity, and other non-fruitful and unspiritual thoughts into my mind, I could steal away my own zeal. So, the quenching of zeal is very real.

As we consider this, I’d like to look at three comparisons of the Beloved or the Shulamite, the wife of King Solomon and Gomer, the wife of Hosea. Let’s first consider the difference in the kiss. The kiss is an outward sign or act of love that is most effective when expressed in a covenant marriage relationship.

The Difference in the Kiss

A quick look at the use of the word “kiss” in these stories points us to a hindrance of zealous love. The kiss Song of Solomon 1:2 says, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. For thy love is better than wine (KJV).”

This describes a prosperous love. Israelites drank wine at every feast. So this love was greater than even the grandest feast. The Shulamite, Solomon’s Beloved, desired only the kisses of her Lover. The description shows an unhindered zealous love for the King.

But the “kiss” in the next passage gives us an example of misplaced zeal, a hindrance to a zealous and unfailing love relationship with God. First the kiss we are going to look at happens in an adulterous affair. It takes place in sin. It takes place outside the covenant-marriage relationship. Love expressed in sin hinders the truly zealous love for God that each of us should desire. Second, and yet related, the kiss happens in a season of idol worship or idolatry. Let’s read the passage.

Hosea 13:2 reads, “. . . Kiss the calf-idols (NIV).” Instead of offering love to the Holy God, the Israelites chose molten calves. They offered human sacrifices and kissed the calves they created. Although this passage speaks of the life of the Israelites, it also relates to the life of Gomer. Hosea married Gomer taking her from a life of prostitution. Because of passages like this, many scholars believe that Gomer was a prostitute in the temple of other gods. She would have participated in this type of worship directly.

Her prostitution also represented spiritual prostitution by the Israelites. The love relationship between Gomer and Hosea mirrored the Israelites relationship with God. So like the Israelites who left their God for the worship of other gods, other lovers, Gomer leaves Hosea for other lovers. Hosea was zealous over his husbandry, his right to lead, guide, love, and direct his wife. He saw her turn to other lovers leaving their own relationship hapless and barren. When we leave our love relationship with God for other lovers, when we misplace our worship, when we find other things—idols—we quench our own zeal. Are their idols or things in your life that steal your zeal?

The Feast or Famine

Song of Solomon 2:4 says, “He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. The Shulamite says in chapter 5:1, “I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.” Her banqueting table is full. She readily thanks the King for his provision in her life. She accepts his sovereignty in her life. He remains King over her choices and desires. She acknowledges his position of leadership and love over her life.

In Hosea the prophet offers his wife Gomer this provision as well. He gives to her a feast, a banquet of both food and unfailing love. But Gomer rejects his sovereignty, his provision and of his love. In the passage below we see her choice to leave the prophet.

Hosea 2:5 says, “I will go after my lovers, who gave me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.”

Despite the marriage covenant, Gomer says I will do as I please. I won’t keep the marriage covenant made before God. I will live a life of adultery and idolatry. She spoke out the language of sin and denied God sovereign rule in her life. The words “I will do as I please” go against the sovereignty of God. God is zealous of his sovereignty. He made the heaven and the earth. He has the right to rule over His creation. He is the potter who fashions the clay according to his good pleasure, his holiness, and wisdom. (See Romans 9:18-21)

While she chooses to sin, she also rejects the sovereignty of God’s provision for her life. Out of a zealousness for her love, God lifts his provisions. He takes away the feast leaving her with famine.

First He hinders her way. He blocks her paths and causes confusion, so she cannot meet her goals. (See Hosea 2:6-7.) Why does He hinder her?

“Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.”

Sometimes for us to realize how good we have it, we have to experience the opposite, the negative or the bad.

We are all better off when we don’t fight against God. We are better off when we accept his sovereignty and acknowledge His work in our lives.

Hosea 2:8 says, “She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold –which they used for Baal (Hosea 2:8)”

Gomer was prostitute for money, not sex. She made her living by selling her body to her lovers. She goes after her lovers for her needs and provisions. Thereby, she in her thinking she provided for herself. She acknowledges herself through her selling of her body as her provider. She claims she doesn’t need anyone, not even her husband to provide.

Our provisions, whether we chose to acknowledge it or not, come from God. Our provisions, whether we use them in a godly manner or not, come from God. At the very core of our provisions is God. God gave the rain that produced the crops that fed the animals that produced the wool. At the very basic of life existence, He created the world and keeps it in order for our use. Gomer’s money gotten a-whoring could not provide what God could.

The paths God has designed for my life are often different than I anticipated. I made choices that caused debt and extra work. But God has always been faithful.

God as a Husband

Isaiah 54:5, “For your Maker is your husband (NIV).” There are many practical truths in that statement for women who have been widowed and divorced, or even never married. But for every one of us, God desires to be our husband.

Hosea 2:16 declares that there will come a time when “You will call me ‘my husband;’ you will no longer call me ‘my master (NIV).’”

The word “kiss” gave us a clue to the difference in the two married relationships presented in Hosea and Song of Solomon. Now this verse points us to again the differences. Note the two words “husband” and “master.”

The Hebrew word used here for husband is “iysh.” Although the word has many nuances, the general consensus by scholars is that this passage refers to someone “responsible for a wife or a woman and revered by her.” (The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, pg. 14 of the Hebrew and Aramaric Dictionary)

In Song of Solomon, the Shulamite honors and respects her husband. She shows this in her desire to delight him and in her response to his advances. (See Song of Solomon 2:3.) Her description of him is positive. (See Song of Solomon 5:10) She wants to be in his presence and allures him to her. (Song of Solomon 8:14.) She is his greatest fan. The King has no reason to be jealous.

The Hebrew word “Baaliy” means master. Gomer lived under the roof of Hosea, but showed him little respect. There are no words of affection passed from Gomer to Hosea. Even the intimacy of a husband and wife is questioned. Hosea knows his children are from affairs. Hosea lives with Gomer; she might have even cooked his meals. But all of this was done from a sense of duty, not of love. It was all done with her heart back in her old ways of life. Hosea was zealous for his wife. God is zealous for his people.

God wants our love. He wants to be our husband not our master.

Speaking Hope to Your Heart

Both of these stories are stories of hope. Song of Solomon gives us hope that we can have a fruitful and prosperous relationship. Our love for God can be without idolatry and sin. We can communicate with Him.

Hosea provide hope that even when we mess up, there’s a God who wants us back.

Hosea 2:14 explains that God wants to allure us. The root of this Hebrew word means to make open, to make roomy. God wants to open our senses, our delights to his banquet of love and provisions. To speak tenderly to us. He literally wants to speak to our hearts. He wants us to go away with Him to a beautiful, private place. Where? In the desert. Many of you may associate dryness and sand with a desert. But the desert is a beautiful place full of life and mystery. God wants you in this place, where you totally depend on him. Yes, the desert is dry and thirsty (Ezekiel 9:14). Yes, there is less you can provide for yourself. But also yes, beautiful flowers and wonderful plants grow in this land.

God has a feast of provisions at this retreat. Not just in earthly food and water, but in a spiritual intimate time with him.

Hosea 2:19,20 says, “I will betroth you to me forever; I betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion, I will betroth you in faithfulness.”

The word betroth means “to woo like a virgin.” God sees our lack; he knows the wrong thoughts and desires; he knows our imperfections and our gross sins. But he prefers to call us back as if none of that had ever occurred. When we come to him, He sees us as spotless white. He gives us the chance to start over. We can have a new relationship of righteousness, justice, love, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness. God comes after us like a husband chasing after a young virgin.

I recently talked to a woman who was raped as a child. In her culture, she was unfit for marriage. After several rejections, an American man provided a small dowry to her family. He then whisked her off to Alaska. Unknown to her family and herself, she had been sold into a sex slave racket. This caused more humiliation. Where was God she might have thought? But she never gave up pursuing her God.

The rejection that she felt, the pain and humiliation she went through was undeserved. She had a heart that knew right and wanted to be faithful to God. God granted her the desires of her heart and another man, who truly loved her, set her free from slavery. Now she lives free to serve Him.

Perhaps you’ve been defiled resulting in great wounds or maybe you’ve made a choice that has produced scars on your life. God wants to woo you like a virgin. When you think you don’t deserve God’s best, when you hide your sins for fear others will think less of you. God allures you into the desert; He speaks softly and tenderly to you. He slowly and gently plants you in a beautiful place where He only can provide. Where your dependency will grow in him alone!

Hosea 2:20 ends “And thou shalt know the Lord (KJV).” The Hebrew word “yada” has many connotations. One of these is in Genesis 4:1 where Adam “knows” Eve in a sexual manner. The indication of this “knowing the Lord” is the becoming one in marriage. Not only will God betroth you, but He will accept you as His wife one more time. The church is described in Revelation 19:7, 8 in this manner: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

God the husband has an amazing love for you. Maybe you haven’t experienced this type of love before. I think none of us truly have for earthly love is of no comparison. His love includes the physical provisions of bread and water. It includes providing for a relationship spiritually as the new wine and oil represents. It includes a covering of protection symbolized by the wool and the linen.

As a husband He dedicates to nurturing you and seeing you grow. He cares only about producing a beautiful, strong rose in the desert of our lives. (Isaiah 35:1,2)

“I will plant her for myself in the land. I will show my love to the one I called not my loved one. I will say to those called not my people, you are my people. And they will say you are my God.”

God is a zealous, loving husband. He chases us and desires that we turn to him with the same love.

It says in Song of Solomon 3:1-4:

“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now and go about in the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little while that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him and would not let him go.”

But when we can’t chase him. When we’ve rejected him and chosen our own road, God still pursues us.

Hosea and Song of Solomon relate marriage from three perspectives.

Both are prophetic love stories exemplifying the relationship of one man to one woman.

Both divulge the depth of God’s love for his Covenant people Israel (Is. 54:5)

Both allegorically explain Christ’s love for the Church. (Rev. 19:7, 8)

Song of Solomon is a picture of a bride and a bridegroom; it’s the Israelite nation united with God in covenant relationship; it’s Jesus Christ and his bride, the church, in a zealous relationship.

The book of Hosea is a desperate and disparate relationship between a prophet and a prostitute; it’s the Israelite nation separated from God by idolatry and spiritual adultery; it’s a zealous God pursuing the church wandering from their first love, Jesus Christ.