“I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’” Hosea 2:6-7
Lord Jesus, I love the wildflowers on the coast of Northern Ireland, sea oats on any beach, and honey suckle vines in full aromatic bloom. Today, however, I praise you for the grace-gift of “thornbushes.” They’re not pretty, but they are priceless.
When we’re in “prone to wander” mode, you shift into “committed to disrupt mode.” Thank you. Some of the “lovers” we chase are people, most aren’t. Anything that promises to fill our longings, satisfy our lusts, medicate our pain, or bloat our self-esteem can become a “lover.” Work, money, society’s smile, a bigger “ministry,” looking 40 at 60, children who don’t disappoint us… the list is endless. For good reason you call them “worthless idols” (Jer. 2:5) and “broken cisterns” (Jer. 2:13). They cannot, they will not satisfy.
Jesus, your love for us exposes then mocks the insanity of our sin. What is a “one night stand” compared to an “eternal standing in grace”? You died to make us your beloved Bride. To know you is to be more married than we’ll ever be to a human spouse. Today, in this very moment, you see, know, and love us with great tenacity, tenderness, and delight. You love us so much and so well, we’ve probably only experienced about 7% of it so far. Keep the thornbushes coming, Jesus. So Very Amen.