Central Idea

God will graciously put an end to the people's idolatry, grant them universal peace and establish with them a marriage relationship forever.

[[ Note: English versification has been utilized for both arc and notes. ]]

What is the different between "My Husband" and "My Husband"?

There are two ways to say "my husband" in Hebrew: "בעלי" and "אישי". While the latter is more common, the former is nonetheless standard fare. The only real difference pertinent to this verse is in how they are pronounced. The first is pronounced "baali"--the same way you would say "my Baal," a false god of the time (though this particular phrase never actually occurs in the Old Testament outside of this verse). Thus, due to the verbal connection between this way to refer to God as husband and the false god that Israel was so prone to make images of and worship, the alternative way to speak of God as husband (pronounced "ishi") will be employed on "that day."

How will God remove the Baals from their lips and memories?

Is it like Zeph 1:4 where the Lord does so by destroying those who worship Baal? Or rather like Zech 13:2 in which God cuts off the names of the idols via changing the hearts of the people? Vs20 suggests the latter. God is granting to Israel faithfulness (see below) such that she intimately knows the Lord and finds it not a burden, but a delight to obey Ex 23:13:

“Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.”

What is the covenant God will make with the animals?

First off, it is a sort of restoration of Eden, indicated by the similar groupings of animals as we find in Gen 1:30. Animals are no longer killing one another and causing fear (just as humans are no longer doing this in the latter half of vs18). This blessing was promised to obedient Israel (Lev 26:5-6) and here we find it fulfilled as God has granted her obedience. Why has the animal kingdom turned from violence? Is 11:6-9 makes explicit what we find implicit in this passage--i.e. knowledge of God is the ruling reality.

What more can we learn of God's abolishing of war and bringing safety?

Again, Isaiah helps illuminate our passage. In Is 2:2-4 we find the peoples destroying all their weapons of war because the mountain of the Lord has been opened up to freely go and be taught by God. How this will come about is suggested a few chapters later as the garments of war are burned because of the birth of the Messiah who shall be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Is 9:5-7). Jeremiah adds his description to the mix as well and reveals that this security shall exist because of the justice and righteousness ushered in by the same reigning Messiah (Jer 23:5-6). 

"I will betroth..." x3 - What is going on here?

It is very common in Hebrew writing to find parallel statements using different words but expressing the same idea. But to find a single verb repeated identically three times in a row is strange to say the least. Thus, we would be wise to pay special attention to these verses.

The reason "forever" is separated from "righteousness" and "justice" and steadfast love" and "mercy" seems clear. The first speaks to the permanence of the betrothal, with the latter terms describe the quality. But why is "faithfulness" not included with this second set? I propose that while the first four qualities primarily describe the manner in which the Lord will relate to this new Israel in the future betrothal, "faithfulness" primarily describes the manner in which the Lord will cause Israel to relate to him. The reason I am drawn to this understanding is because it has been the un-"faithfulness" of Israel which has consumed the book of Hosea to this point. It is the problem. Thus, as in Jer 31:31-34, we find that the problem in God's relationship with the people of God in the Old Covenant is that the people break the covenant, and God's solution to this in the New Covenant is to change the hearts of his people.

Another worthwhile note regarding this betrothal in vs19-20 is that the preposition used before the qualities is "ב" ("in"). While this verb "to betroth" has a handful of other occurrences in the Tanach, in only one other place is it found with this preposition (2Sam. 3:14). There it describes the bride-price of the betrothal. And so with that piece, let us think on these verses in light of Scripture as a whole.

There will come a day when God will take back to himself a people forever, with an intimacy that they have never before experienced. But it will not be without cost. The price shall be the righteousness of the Son of God lived in a fallen and depraved world, the full execution of justice delivered upon him for the sake of a people, all flowing from the unshakeable steadfast love of the Father for sinners, to the glory of his unending mercy. And this people, to be as his bride, shall be pure--declared and made so by the works of God in Messiah already described as well as performed by her because of the quality of faithfulness that the Lord shall create in her heart.

Why is the people knowing the LORD a Ground?

As you look at how these elements of the betrothal are used elsewhere in Hosea, it seems the center of them is knowledge of God. In fact, in every case we find these qualities called for in the people of God in Hosea (with one exception), we are confronted with this idea of knowing or seeking God (4:1; 5:3–4; 6:4–6; 10:12; the exception: 12:6). This is why I say knowledge of God seems to be the center of them, the core of where they come from.

"And this is eternal life [the eternal betrothal!], that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3)

Additionally, there is evidence to say that the presence of these qualities, especially faithfulness, confirm true knowledge of God. The people are chided a couple times in the book for claiming to know God, but not having these qualities, and so showing their knowledge of God to be a sham. Perhaps one of the ways God granted biblical revelation through John in the writing of 1John was through meditation on Hosea. We see there as well a great emphasis on peoples' lives establishing their claim of knowing God.