I remember the first time Cooper said I love you. Cooper has autism – and his language was and continues to be extremely delayed in development. Up until the time he was 2 he spoke practically no words. Occasionally – like once every few weeks – a two or three word phrase would escape his lips as clearly as you or I could speak. When it happened, it shocked us. Try as we might to get him to repeat whatever he had just said, he wouldn’t -or couldn’t – repeat it. It was as if these words burst forth on their own accord.
One day my husband, mother in law and I were sitting in my in-laws’ living room. Cooper got up from where he played, walked over to me and unmistakably said, “I love you.” I was so glad I had witnesses because it would have been unbelievable otherwise. These words gave me hope.
We were created with a need to know that we are loved. Even the toughest skinned cowboy has a spot inside of him where he desires the confidence of knowing that someone, somewhere loves him. Not for what he can do for them – but just because he exists.
The biblical book “Song of Solomon” is unique as a writing style in scripture. On the eighth day of the Passover the Jews would sing portions of Song of Solomon, a book that they compared to the most holy place in the temple. It is a love story between a woman and a man. A bride and a bridegroom. A courtship, a wedding, married life, adultery and reconciliation. It is a picture of God and us.
God tells us over and over in scripture that when we stop pursuing him with completeness of our heart we are like an adulterating wife, headed after other lovers. To say that adultery in a marriage is damaging is a gross understatement. Adultery in marriage is severing. It is crippling. Something that was meant to be unified, is no longer. And if the marriage parties even consider reconciliation – the road is long and hard. Some never make it. One or the other parties often give up.
This is a parallel of what we do in our relationship with God when we so lightly set Him aside to go after something that we know we shouldn’t. The beautiful part of this adultery is that God will never give up the pursuit to reignite our relationship with him.
Hosea was a prophet in Israel. The people in the northern kingdom of Israel were walking as harlots in their relationship with God. Time and again God called them to return to Him, to once again seek to be a nation that followed His ways. Time and again they strayed and worshiped other gods.
God asked Hosea to do something radical. He instructed Hosea to take for himself a wife, who was a harlot, and have children with her. ‘Harlot’ means prostitute. Remarkably, Hosea obeyed. Her name, was Gomer. Things began well; Gomer and Hosea had children.
Unsurprisingly however, Gomer left Hosea. She returned to her adulterating ways. Hosea must have been crushed. One thing I love about this story is that throughout this real-life object lesson that God took Hosea through – God continually spoke to Hosea. God had to know how incredibly difficult obedience to His commands would be for Hosea; and it appears that He stayed in constant contact – always instructing and showing Hosea step by step how to navigate this difficult circumstance.
In chapter 2, we read that although Gomer was in hot pursuit of her lovers, God did not let her find happiness in the stuff she was going after. He uses phrasing such as, “I will hedge her way with thorns” “She cannot find her paths” “She will seek but not find…”
When we pursue stuff in this world – such as money, status or other people – as ways to make us happy; we too will not find satisfaction. The God who loves us just will not let it happen. There will always be unrest if anything but God is given first place in our hearts.
The most beautiful part of this story – and the part that I pray delivers you hope today – is that when Gomer was at the end of her rope of harlotry, God was there to speak kindness to her heart. Verse 19 of chapter 2 reads, “I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.”
Friend, there is nothing that you have done in your life that is unforgivable in the sight of the God who is right now pursuing you. Like Gomer, you can say, “I’ve had it with this life!” …and thus is the beginning of true wisdom. We read that Gomer didn’t know that God who was there all along, through her wickedness. He is there through yours too. Certainly not condoning – but waiting and pursuing. Hedging your way so you will not find the empty promises you seek.
If you are through with the futile pursuit – turn your heart to the one who is pursuing you.
Today, my son is 7 and mercifully he tells me “I love you” every day. The “I love you” that God wants to say to you will always be clear. He will always repeat it. There will be no doubt. God is good. Listen for His “I love you” in your life.
~peace.
