The Lord's Love for Israel

I was reading the lyrics to a song this morning and the bridge really captured me:

It's true that you could snap my neck
I trust you'll save my life instead
'Cause our love is a loyalty sworn
If we hold to our hope

Then I know we can weather the storm
Whatever they say, come what may

Then I began reading Hosea 11, a chapter with the heading "The Lord's Love for Israel." (Please read the chapter if you have a minute.)

The chapter begins as follows, in verses 1-2:

    When Israel was a child, I loved him,
        and out of Egypt I called my son.
    The more they were called,
        the more they went away;
    they kept sacrificing to the Baals
        and burning offerings to idols.

Then come verses 8-9:

    How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
        How can I hand you over, O Israel?
    How can I make you like Admah?
        How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
    My heart recoils within me;
        my compassion grows warm and tender.
    I will not execute my burning anger;
        I will not again destroy Ephraim;
    for I am God and not a man,
        the Holy One in your midst,
        and I will not come in wrath.

Here's what the study Bible notes say:

"Hos. 11:8 How can I give you up? In highly anthropomorphic terms, the Lord pours out his irrepressible love; Isa. 49:15 and Jer. 31:20 express the same sentiment. The relationship between God and his chosen must not be viewed as a formality. These emotional outpourings demonstrate that the Lord is a person, filled with compassion—unlike the lifeless Baals. His affection weighs heavier than Israel’s ingratitude, and he cannot bring himself to renounce his people, even though they renounce him. How can I make you like Admah … like Zeboiim? These two cities were totally destroyed (see Deut. 29:23; also Gen. 14:2, 8). The love that the Lord has for his children restrains him from obliterating them. He will preserve Israel through a remnant (cf. Rom. 11:5)."

The back of my neck tingled, my throat tightened, my eyeballs got damp and I was once again reminded of how stubborn God is about withholding the wrath I deserve and giving me the love I don't. God's love for us overwhelms all we do to escape it.

The Carousel

Maleldil

"Do you place yourself in the obedience," said the Director, "in obedience to Maleldil?"

"Sir," said Jane, "I know nothing of Maleldil. But I place myself in obedience to you."

"It is enough for the present," said the Director. "This is the courtesy of Deep Heaven: that when you mean well, He always takes you to have meant better than you knew. It will not be enough for always. He is very jealous. He will have you for no one but Himself in the end. But for tonight, it is enough."

Daniel 9:7-11

Funny how things worked out...

To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.

(Daniel 9:7-11 ESV)

Sleeping At Last

If you're not listening to Sleeping At Last, you're a dummy.

God, may these good intentions / be the outline of so much more / when i breathe, from now on / i'll mean it more than i ever did before