The Lord's Mercy on Israel
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. Hos. 2:19
I will betroth... Just as Hosea married Gomer the second time, after she learned her lesson regarding being true to her husband, so the same would happen to Israel regarding her relationship with Jehovah, according to the prediction here. God will marry Israel again and betroth her to Himself forever in righteousness and faithfulness (Hos. 2:19-20).
Then Jehovah, turning again to the wife of His youth, says to her, “I will betroth thee” (as at the first, when maiden undefiled). Three times this phrase is repeated.
unto me in... Indicate the equitable terms on which God would accept the penitent; and lest this thought should crush her with fear, “loving-kindness” and “tender mercies” follow; and lest this should seem too good, He adds “with faithfulness” (to myself).
The law of commandments will be no more.
Eph. 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;"
Read the rest of the chapter to get the full picture. "This is when He writes the law on the heart of man.
Heb. 10:16 “This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"
in righteousness, and... Is being put in right standing with God. Jesus did it for us and all we have to do is believe. All of these; righteousness, judgment, loving-kindness, and mercy come from God to man.
The restoration of the Lord’s marriage to Israel is described in terms of a betrothal. Kidner points out that the word betroth marks “a new beginning, with all the freshness of first love, rather than the weary patching up of differences” (Love for the Loveless, p. 34). It will be as though the Lord and Israel had returned to the days of courtship. Betrothal in ancient Israel was much more binding than engagement is in contemporary Western society. The Law treated a betrothed couple as though they were legally married (Deut. 20:7; 22:23-24). At the time of the betrothal the man would pay a price to seal the agreement (cf. 2Sam. 3:14). The Lord’s price will consist of righteousness… justice… love… compassion, and faithfulness. These qualities will characterize His relationship with Israel, which will never again be disrupted (cf. Hos. 2:19).
Righteousness (ṣeḏeq̱) and “justice” (mišpāṭ) refer here to the maintenance of Israel’s just cause, which includes vindication through deliverance. “Love” (ḥeseḏ) is an unswerving devotion which fulfills the responsibilities arising from a relationship. “Compassion” (raḥămı̂m, related to rāḥam, used in Hos. 1:6-7; 2:1, 2:4) is tender feeling which motivates one to gracious action. “Faithfulness” ('ĕ̌mûnâh) implies dependability and constant loyalty.
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