The Gospel of Hosea: A Sequel with Ezekiel
The Gospel of Hosea: A Sequel with Ezekiel.
A Hundred Years after Hosea, around the year 600 BC, we see the infinitely patient and gracious Yahweh wooing His unfaithful covenant bride once again, only this time in the southern kingdom of Judah. Yahweh doesn’t give up on His bride, because His mercy endures forever.
“Then later, I passed by again and looked upon you. And behold, I saw that your time had come – you were now old enough for love and a lover. So I spread the wings (‘kanaph’) of My garment over you and covered your nakedness and shame. I gave you My sacred promise. I, Lord Yahweh, made a divine covenant of marriage with you, saying, ‘You will be Mine,’ and I took you as My own.” (Ezekiel 16:8).
Kanaph: The Hebrew word for “wings” used over 100 times in the Hebrew Bible which has a variety of meanings, often giving us a picture of God in action or revealing for us aspects of God’s character… the literal wings of a bird; the corners of a prayer shawl; the outer extremities of a garment; the outstretched wings of angels; the protective presence God as a refuge and shelter; the glorious rays coming out of the sun; the sudden swooping presence of judgment; the strength of God to rescue and deliver from danger.
Tallit: The square or rectangular garment with four corners that is used as a prayer shawl for faithful Jews and many Christians who want to follow the daily practice of Jesus. Per the commandment above, the tallit is required to have a knotted tassel, or fringe, hanging from each of the four corners. The tallit was usually white and made of wool or cotton linen. The four corners of the garment represented the four extremities of the earth, and point to God’s complete sovereignty over the world, His universal Kingship. The four dimensions of height, width, length and depth also reminds us of God’s eternal and unlimited love for us. The four corners of the tallit were called “wings” because when someone who is wearing a tallit raises his arms in prayer, the appearance is one of bird in flight.
Spreading the Wings of a Garment. There was an ancient Near East tradition adopted by the Hebrews regarding how a man was to propose marriage to a woman. He would pick up the corners, the “wings,” of his robe or outer garment and drape them over his intended spouse. Covering a woman with the edges or hem of his garment was an announcement similar to an engagement ring in modern times. The pious Jew would go one step further and didn’t use just any garment… He would take the wings of his tallit, his prayer shawl, and spread them over his betrothed to communicate his seriousness and the holiness of his intentions. Once a man covered his intended bride with his tallit, they were considered as good as married, promised to a future together as man and wife. This symbolic act revealed that this was a man who would protect his intended bride, would provide for her, and would remain faithful to her all their days.
Ezekiel 16. Over 100 years after Hosea, the Lord once again provided a graphic example of the completely broken relationship between His chosen people and Himself. The context of this passage above is even more dramatic when seen in its context. This particular chapter came down through Jewish history as one of the most notorious passages in all of Scripture. It was so scandalous and shameful to the Jews that rabbi’s would not allow it to be translated or even read in public! Ezekiel in this Word from Yahweh goes into graphic detail, using vivid if not vulgar sexual language, to shock those in Jerusalem into a much-needed turnaround. The Lord wanted to explain in this poetic allegory, which became an extended metaphor, the realities of their betrayal to the divine Covenant established with them long ago. Ezekiel is reminding the people of Jerusalem of their abominations before Him, the despicable and disgusting acts of spiritual unfaithfulness after being blessed so profoundly down through their history. Ezekiel didn’t hold anything back as he described their chasing after pagan gods, sacrificing their children to the fire, participating in ritual prostitution, engaging in sexual perversions, and turning a blind eye in their laziness and pride to the needs of the poor. Ezekiel confronted them with how Yahweh called them out of the land of Canaan, how He graciously took pity on them in their humble state, and then initiated a ‘ketubah,’ a spiritual marriage covenant on Mt. Sinai with them which promised faithfulness and love and trust between them. It was at this time in Ezekiel’s poetic allegory of 16:1-14 that the poignant picture of Yahweh taking the corners of his prayer shawl and covering them in His marriage proposal. As the faithful husband to Israel, He then showered her with blessings, lavishing one undeserved gift upon her after another. Isn’t it amazing that, despite this spiritual unraveling of the Chosen People, the Lord Yahweh nonetheless seemed to be wooing Israel back to Him in this shameful passage, openly expressing His desire for her to return home to Him? Grace, pure grace.