God still loves his people
14 But listen! One day, I will speak kind words to her. I will lead her into the wilderness. I will tell her that I love her. 15 There, I will give her the vineyards that she had before. I will change Trouble Valley into a place where people hope for good things. She will be happy with me there, as she was when she was young. That was the time when she came out of Egypt.
2:15Trouble Valley (Achor Valley) was the place where God punished Achan. See Joshua 7:24-26. 2:15The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God rescued them and they travelled through the wilderness to the special land that God would give them as their new home. Egypt is a country in north Africa that was south of Israel. Pharaohs were the rulers of Egypt.
16 The Lord says this: When that happens, you will call me ‘My husband’. You will never again call me ‘ Baal, my master’. 17 I will never again let you speak the names of the idols of Baal.
18 At that time, I will make a promise that nothing will hurt my people. I will make an agreement with the wild animals, with the birds in the fields and with the animals that move along the ground. I will remove from their land all the weapons that soldiers use to fight wars. I will destroy their swords and their bows and arrows. I will allow my people to live safely in peace.
19 Israel, I will make you my wife for ever.
I will promise to help you in a way that is right and fair.
I will be kind to you with a faithful love.
20 I will promise to be a faithful husband for you.
Then you will know me as the Lord.
21 The Lord says this:
At that time, I will answer your prayers.
I will put clouds in the sky,
and the clouds will send rain to the earth.
22 The earth will feed the grain, the wine and the olive oil.
My people will be happy to say, ‘God plants’ (Jezreel).
23 I will plant them safely in the land.
I will show love to ‘No love’ (Lo-Ruhamah).
I will say to ‘Not my people’ (Lo-Ammi), ‘You are my people.’
2:23Lo-Ruhamah means ‘No love’. Lo-Ammi means ‘Not my people’. See Hosea 1:6-9. And they will say to me, ‘You are my God.’
