post 2

Hosea 2 is absolutely beautiful.  Following the intesity of Hosea 1, I found it so awe-ing (or whatever the verb for "being in awe" is)

I will make for them a covenant
I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land,
and I will make you lie down in safety.
And I will betroth you to me forever.
I will betroth you to me in righteousness
and in justice,
in steadfast love
and in mercy.
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.

And you shall know the Lord.

I will answer the heavens,
and they shall answer the earth,
  and they shall answer [Gomer's child]
and I will sow her for myself in the land.

And I will have mercy on No Mercy,

and I will say to Not My People,  "You are my people";

and he shall say, "You are my God."

 Because of Him - because of His covenant, His character, His work - the sinner is kept safe.  The sinner is bound to God in His righteousness, His justice, His love, His faithfulness.  And now we can know Him.  This isn't simply a bland, emotion-less decision from God.  He is answering the heavens, screaming His justice, announcing to the world "These are My people!  I am sowing them for Myself! They are mine forever!"

That encourages my little heart.  So much.