EGW WritingsHosea 2

Testimony for the Church — No. 27

Jeremiah.

T27 42.1

He entreated them to hear the words that he spoke. He cited them to the prophecies of Hosea, Habakuk, Zephaniah, and others whose messages of reproof and warning had been similar to his own. He referred them to events which had transpired in their history in fulfillment of the prophecies of retribution for unrepented sins. Sometimes, as in this case, men had arisen in opposition to the message of God, and predicted peace and prosperity, to quiet the fears of the people, and gain the favor of those in high places. But in every past instance the judgment of God had been visited upon Israel, as the true prophets had indicated. Said he “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him.” If Israel chose to run the risk, future developments would effectually decide which was the false prophet.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 82, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 82, 1895, par. 1

Sabbath, October 19, the gathering at the tent was larger than we expected, as in the forenoon meetings were held by our people in the different churches. Hereafter all will come to the ground on Sabbath and Sunday. In the forenoon Brother Corliss spoke from Hosea words that were full of instruction. I spoke in the afternoon from the fourth [chapter] of John: “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” [Verse 10.]

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6

Chapter 51—Preparation for the Final Crisis

6T 409.2

After Israel’s apostasy and bitter retribution, God’s message of grace for the repentant people was: “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:14, 15.

6T 409.3

“And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call Me my husband; and shalt call Me no more my lord.... And I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.” Verses 16-20, margin.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 24—“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

PK 298.2

In symbolic language Hosea set before the ten tribes God’s plan of restoring to every penitent soul who would unite with His church on earth, the blessings granted Israel in the days of their loyalty to Him in the Promised Land. Referring to Israel as one to whom He longed to show mercy, the Lord declared, “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call Me Ishi [“My husband,” margin]; and shalt call Me no more Baali [“My lord,” margin]. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.” Hosea 2:14-17.

PK 299.2

“And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Verses 18-23.

The Review and Herald

February 26, 1914

RH February 26, 1914, par. 9

“And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 2:14-23.

From Splendor to Shadow

Israel, “Wanderers Among the Nations”

SS 159.3

In symbolic language Hosea set forth God’s plan of restoring to every penitent soul the blessings granted Israel in the days of their loyalty to Him in the Promised Land. Referring to Israel the Lord declared, “I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. And in that day, says the Lord, you will call Me, ‘My husband,’ and no longer will you call Me, ‘My Baal.’” Hosea 2:15, 16, RSV.

SS 159.4

In the last days of earth’s history, God’s covenant with His commandment-keeping people is to be renewed, “And I will betroth thee unto Me forever; ... in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies ... . And thou shalt know the Lord.” “And I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Verses 19, 20, 23.

The Great Controversy

Chapter 21—A Warning Rejected

GC 381.2

In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and His church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone. He declares: “I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.” Hosea 2:19. And, again: “I am married unto you.” Jeremiah 3:14. And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2.

The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)

Chapter 21—A Warning Rejected

GC88 381.1

In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and his church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined his people to himself by a solemn covenant, he promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be his, and his alone. He declares, “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.” [Hosea 2:19.] And again, “I am married unto you.” [Jeremiah 3:14.] And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament, when he says, “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” [2 Corinthians 11:2.]

From Here to Forever

The Second Angel’s Message

HF 236.4

In the Bible the relation between Christ and His church is represented by marriage. The Lord declares: “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness.” “I am married unto you.” And Paul says: “I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Hosea 2:19; Jeremiah 3:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 72, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 72, 1897, par. 14

Make ready a people to stand in the day of the Lord. We have no time to lose. The Lord is coming; the end is near. “Many shall be purified, made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand.” [Verse 10.] And the Lord will say to those who are obedient to His commandments in a world of disobedience and transgression of His law, “I will betroth thee forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment, and in lovingkindness and in mercy. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord.” [Hosea 2:19, 20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 34, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 34, 1900, par. 25

A sacred relationship exists between Christ our Saviour and the believer. He says, “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord.” [Hosea 2:19, 20.] “Thou shalt know.” Is not this the desire of the soul? There are many who ridicule the idea of there being any certainty in religious experience. Some cannot bear to hear sanctification and the higher attainments spoken about. But the Word says, “Thou shalt know the Lord,” and this means holiness and sanctification.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8

Chapter 10—Missionary Work at Home and Abroad

8T 57.1

God declares: “I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 2:23. “And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6.

The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 17—Heralds of the Gospel

AA 174.1

Centuries before, the pen of inspiration had traced this ingathering of the Gentiles; but those prophetic utterances had been but dimly understood. Hosea had said: “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” And again: “I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 1:10; 2:23.

From Trials to Triumph

Chapter 17—Heralds of the Gospel

TT 93.1

Centuries before, the pen of inspiration had traced this ingathering of the Gentiles. See Hosea 1:10; 2:23. The Saviour Himself foretold the spread of the gospel among them. See Matthew 21:43. And after His resurrection He commissioned His disciples to go “into all the world” and “make disciples of all nations.” Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19, RSV.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 5, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 5, 1895, par. 5

And Peter said to the believers, “The promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” [Acts 2:39.] And the Lord said, “I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; And I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” [Hosea 2:23.] “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.” [Isaiah 49:6.] Something has been done in foreign countries, and something in home missions; but altogether too much territory has been left unworked. The work is too much centralized. The interests in Battle Creek are overgrown, and this means the robbing of other parts of facilities which they should have had.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Ms 51, 1907

22LtMs, Ms 51, 1907, par. 9

To all who yield themselves to God in willing and entire obedience, He will say, “Thou art My people.” And the response will be, “Thou art our God.” [Hosea 2:23.] He regards them as His treasure, above all people that dwell on the face of the earth.