Unfailing Love in Judgment

How does the Lord respond to unfaithfulness?
As we begin a new series through the book of Hosea this week, the first three chapters depict the Lord's response to Israel's betrayal and unfaithfulness through the marriage of Hosea to his wife Gomer, and their children. The Lord cannot simply overlook covenant unfaithfulness. On the contrary, as the names of Hosea's children in the first chapter convey, Israel deserves 'no mercy' and she has relinquished her right to be called 'the people of God'. However, the Lord remains faithful to his 'bride', and through merciful judgment, bears the betrayal and shame of his unfaithful wife and will restore her to himself with unfailing, redeeming love.
The Lord is deeply pained by the lack of faithfulness, love and knowledge among his covenant people. The warnings and judgment we read of in Hosea are drastic measures indeed. Yet, in holy, jealous love, the Lord is determined to call us to repentance and to restore us to himself in covenant love so that we might receive mercy and be called 'children of the living God'.