One Thursday night of every month the ladies from East Hill (or as many as can/want) get together for a Bible study. This year we have been following the Digging Deep study that Cindy Colley puts together each year. It has been a very beneficial study on sanctification throughout the Bible, and I would encourage you to participate in these studies year round. The new Digging Deep study is released each year at Polishing the Pulpit and would make a great personal or group study!

We start each new study in January instead of August, so we’re a couple of months behind everyone else. For that reason, we only recently got to the book of Hosea. What a book! It was so refreshing to go in depth into a story so many of us are only vaguely familiar with. This month proved to be one of my favorite studies, as sad as it may have been.

As you have probably noticed, my mind often thinks in poetry. To that end, today’s post is just that–a poem. As I was studying through the book of Hosea, my mind kept venturing to Gomer: to what she was thinking, feeling, experiencing. As a result, this poem was born. It is written about the story contained within Hosea from Gomer’s perspective (Robert thought I should absolutely throw in that disclaimer, otherwise you’ll think something is truly troubling in our relationship! Ha!)

“A Covenant, A Marriage”

A covenant, a marriage: I enter in with you.
The life that you are offering, a promise of brand new.
To you I give all of myself, and promise not to stray.
And you, the promise of showering me with new blessings every day.
A covenant, a marriage: a solemn oath and vow.
These words that we have promised bring peace and joy….for now.

A covenant, a marriage: you’ve been so true to me.
But daily I’m pursued by those with treasures I can see.
To them I yield my spirit; I give in to their warm touch.
And you, I doubt you’ll notice, or even miss me much.
A covenant, a marriage: but what’s a little fling?
My lovers are so tempting; my praises they do sing.

A covenant, a marriage: our relationship is strained.
You claim to love me so; say I’m the one who’s changed.
Yet still you say you’ll stay with me, that you’ll never leave my side.
But how can I stay here with you, and in my lovers’ arms abide?
A covenant, a marriage: I’m better off with them.
They treat me well and care for me, and provide my every whim.

A covenant, a marriage: a broken shell of me.
My lovers have abandoned; left me naked in the street.
I’m used up and I’m garbage; a slave–a mere possession.
I’m weak, forsaken, dirty; made worthless by transgression.
A covenant, a marriage: a glimpse of who I’d been.
But now I stand unlovable. Unpardonable. In sin.

A covenant, a marriage: a vow you kept alive!
Though my sin took me away from you, you’re right here by my side!
You gave your all to buy me back, though yours I’ve always been.
Yet still you paid a mighty price to bring me back again.
A covenant, a marriage: a vow you meant to keep.
And to prove how much you love me, you paid a price so steep.

A covenant, a marriage: between my God and I.
And though He’s ever faithful, I have a wandering eye.
I let Satan become both a lover and a friend.
And before I know what’s happened, I’m wallowing in sin.
A covenant, a marriage: a debt I cannot pay.
But Jesus bought me back with blood, now I’m forgiven day by day.