PART III: GOD’S VOW TO HIS BELOVED 

A New Last Name

The moment you give your heart to God, he makes a vow to you to be faithful to you forever. From that moment on, you no longer need to go through life alone. As you can see in today's verses, God made promises to Gomer, just as he makes them to you. 

The first thing he promises is to change her identity. Gomer would no longer be known as the promiscuous girl we spoke about earlier. She is no longer a hooker, a beggar, a slave, or a side-chick. She is his wife. We know that when a man takes a wife, he makes a lasting commitment to be by her side, and to change her last name (don’t get all feminist on me here, it’s just an example). In biblical times, your last name was a symbol of who your protector was. 

In those days, it was very dangerous for women. They were often kidnapped, abused, and mistreated. You were either protected by your father, or when the time came, by your husband. The name your husband gave you was also very important because it represented your social status. To carry the name of a man of honor meant you were treated with honor and respect from those around you. 

In this passage, God makes a lasting commitment to Gomer, which illustrates His lasting commitment to us. He vows to protect us, to be faithful and compassionate towards us, but best of all to be our protector. As our “husband” (not a literal husband but one who commits to us for life) God promises to take us under His protection. From the moment that happens, what we are known for begins to change as well. We no longer need to be known for our past, but rather can begin to be known for the new things we do through our new life. We get a clean slate! When God sees you, he no longer sees you as the girl you were, but the girl you can become. 

Personal Reflection 

What does a new slate mean for me?  

Who would I be if I could start over, with God’s help?  

What are the things I’d like God to renew in my heart? 

How Do We Do It? 

Righteousness and Justice

The word righteousness means to be “morally right, and without blame.” When God shares His righteousness with us, he shares the ability to leave our sinful ways behind, and live a life of purity. (I John 1:9) 

Love and Compassion 

God’s love in our hearts helps us to also love others. It is the key to forgiveness, and mending broken relationships. You may think that your heart is too wounded, or too hardened to love others, or you may have given up on having healthy, meaningful relationships. But, through a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how. God is love, and those who know Him begin to understand and demonstrate true love. (I John 4:7-8) 

Faithfulness

God is faithful, and His love teaches us to be faithful as well. The more we learn from Him, and the more time we spend with Him, the less likely we are to turn away from Him, back to our old lives. He gives us the strength we need to be faithful and loyal even amidst the strongest temptations. When we learn to go to him in our weakness, and when we are tempted He makes us strong. 

Prayer 

Dear Lord, thank you for a new beginning in you. Thank you for your commitment to me, to love me and call me your own all the days of my life. Please help me to live in righteousness and to leave behind what hinders me from having a relationship with you. Help me to learn to love, not only you but those that you have placed in my life. And finally, help me to be faithful to you and to follow you, and you alone for all of my days.