By Kara Parker
Verse 14 and 15: "I" (I is God here) am going to bring her back and allure her. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. He is going to give her back everything she had and make her see things more clearly.
According to my study bible (thank goodness for it, or I would be really lost here)... This is God promising to bring the people to the desert, a place free from distractions and to bring hope to His people
Verse 16: The relationship between Israel and God will be personal like a husband and wife, and no longer like a slave to their master.
Verse 17: You will forget all of the other 'gods'
Verse 18: You will be ruler over all things (beasts of the field and birds of the air and creatures that move along the ground.)
Verse 19: "I will betroth you to Me, forever" AMAZING... THANK YOU GOD! ... "I will betroth you in righteousness and justice in love and compassion." YES PLEASE! (Betroth- to be promised in marriage. Marriage is forever according to the Bible. God wants us Forever! Hallelujah!)
Verse 20: "I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord."
Verse 21-22: The skies will respond to the earth, and the earth will respond to the grain the new wine and oil and they will respond to Jezreel (remember he is Gomer and Hosea's first son). Jezreel here means "God Plants"
Verse 23: I will be His and He will be mine.
Alot of songs came to mind while I typed out my interpretations tonight. "...and the mountains will roar, at the sound of His nammmmmmeeee! I shout for joy at the work of His hands, forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand... Nothing compares to the promise I have with you!" (ok... that is the way I remember the song, that might be a little off--as is my singing voice!) "My beloved is mine and I am his... His banner over me is LOVE."
Also, how amazing is it that the almighty father wants a personal relationship with us. He doesn't want the relationship of Master vs Slave. He wants Husband/Wife, Child/Parent (other parts of the Bible). He just wants us to come to him with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am so thankful for that!