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One recurring phrase in the Old Testament is: “the sheep of His pasture.” <ul><li style="">Psalms 74:1, Psalms 79:13, Psalms 95:7, Psalms 100:3, Jeremiah 23:1, Ezekiel 34:31</li></ul>This phrase speaks directly about our relationship with God — or more accurately, God’s relationship with us, His creation.Psalm 100:3 (NIV); “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”If we read the Bible merely as literature or outside of its larger narrative, we can easily draw conclusions that misrepresent who God truly is. Isolated stories may seem to portray Him as harsh, jealous, inconsistent, or easily angered.But the clearest description of God comes from God Himself. When Jesus spoke of God, He called Him Father.John 20:17 (NIV)“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Fatherhood is not a random title. It communicates intimacy, care, provision, protection, and belonging. No sane father delights in destroying his own child.Jesus also called us friends (John 15:15). And another powerful metaphor Scripture gives us is this: We are the sheep of His pasture.&nbsp;1. Ownership — We Belong to HimGod owns the pasture, and He owns the sheep.Ezekiel 34:6 (NIV)“My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill…” &nbsp;Notice the language: “My sheep.”<figure id="figure-237rrpzmxamlogz70o"><img id="237rrpzmxamlogz70o" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34ErVxvT6L0HWhH2Osps35WamSfEJ6dMP9mjs0IFEppnklY2gz16OMQUepFJh3bt.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34ErVxvT6L0HWhH2Osps35WamSfEJ6dMP9mjs0IFEppnklY2gz16OMQUepFJh3bt.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>This is personal. Intimate. Possessive — but not in a controlling sense. In a covenant sense. We belong to Him.&nbsp;2. The Shepherd’s Role — What Jesus Has Done Understanding what a shepherd actually does reveals what Jesus has accomplished for us.Psalm 23&nbsp; beautifully outlines this:<ul><li>Provides food – “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”</li><li>Protects from danger – “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”</li><li>Searches for the lost – Ezekiel 34:11 “I myself will search for my sheep.”</li><li>Heals and restores – Ezekiel 34:16 “I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.” Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted…”</li><li>Guides and directs – “He leads me beside quiet waters.”</li><li>Maintains order in the flock</li><li>Controls access – John 10:9 “I am the gate…”</li><li>Knows each sheep individually – 📖 John 10:3 “He calls his own sheep by name…”</li><li>Provides rest <figure id="figure-2serucjs9mloh8pm7"><img id="2serucjs9mloh8pm7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3aPr9cynzi8pNW6d3hvWPdJNPbJwf1oOWdROaSRRXmynw2MCIb7TXgpjd0bJ6SNr.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3aPr9cynzi8pNW6d3hvWPdJNPbJwf1oOWdROaSRRXmynw2MCIb7TXgpjd0bJ6SNr.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> </li></ul>&nbsp;3. Why Sheep? Let’s be honest. With how humans think, we might have chosen “lion.” But God chose to refer to us as sheep.Sheep are deeply group-dependent animals that thrive when they stay close to their flock and often become anxious if separated. As prey creatures, they are naturally alert and quick to react to loud sounds, sudden movements, or unfamiliar handling. They remember experiences—good or bad—so harsh treatment can leave lasting fear, while steady, patient care builds confidence. Sheep respond best to calm leadership, consistent routines, and environments that respect their natural instincts, since unmanaged stress can negatively affect their health and performance.That sounds like us. We are intelligent, yes. Capable, yes. But emotionally fragile. Easily anxious. Easily scattered. Sheep need a shepherd.That’s not an insult. Iit is the reality of the sheep.&nbsp;4. So What Does This Mean for Us? • We belong to God. That changes how we face stress, uncertainty, and fear.Matthew 10:30 (NIV) “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” You are not random. You are not unmanaged. You are not unseen. We have to live our life with this reality and understanding. It is easy to feel isolated and lonely.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-1xvnlrin1lmlohbrto"><img id="1xvnlrin1lmlohbrto" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1cSmKXPpOsXvDHzSZSqLTMxndnIFeTlQanMuQCAl94VKPFqFOZcj9rmfUpr1Ngia.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1cSmKXPpOsXvDHzSZSqLTMxndnIFeTlQanMuQCAl94VKPFqFOZcj9rmfUpr1Ngia.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>• We need Jesus. We are HIS sheep. He is OUR Shepherd. He is our cheat code.&nbsp;• The Shepherd metaphor isn’t sentimental. It describes what Jesus secured for us 2,000+ years ago. We have access to:<ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li style="">Provision</li><li style="">Protection</li><li style="">Guidance</li><li style="">Healing</li><li style="">Rest</li><li style="">Intimacy </li></ul></li></ul>The only response required is to trust Him.&nbsp;

The Sheep of His Pasture

John 9 offers a very interesting contrast between the Pharisees’ leadership approach and Jesus’ leadership approach. In summary, Jesus healed a blind man. He spat on the ground, made mud, put it on the man’s eyes, and instructed him to wash. The blind man was healed. People were amazed at this miracle, which naturally led them to ask questions about Jesus.The Pharisees, however, made an issue out of this. They said Jesus was “not of God” because He healed on the Sabbath. They questioned the validity of the miracle and sent for the parents of the blind man to verify it. The inquiry was so intense that John records the parents were afraid of the Jewish leaders.They called the blind man again and tried to manipulate him by saying, “Give glory to God by telling the truth” (verse 24). When this failed, they resorted to insulting him. They aligned themselves with Moses in contrast to Jesus, claiming that God spoke to Moses, but because Jesus was a sinner, God could not have spoken to Him. What they failed to realize was that it was the very God who spoke to Moses whom they were now opposing.The blind man pushed back against this assertion, and at that moment it became clear that the Pharisees had lost any remaining respect he had for them. They ultimately kicked him out.After he was expelled, Jesus found him and revealed Himself as “the Son of Man.” Jesus then exposed the Pharisees as spiritually blind.This story leads directly into the topic of this write-up:<h3>&nbsp;Jesus: The Door of the Sheep</h3><figure id="figure-r7zhm1l97mlctfjfy"><img id="r7zhm1l97mlctfjfy" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29qO7zMBa4VEE4cr9NLVjc7DuxzQHACrUYWvjbCzBTlrUDbrFVgRxttTbxexGbz7.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29qO7zMBa4VEE4cr9NLVjc7DuxzQHACrUYWvjbCzBTlrUDbrFVgRxttTbxexGbz7.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Jesus then moved into the shepherd metaphor to draw a strong contrast between Himself and the Pharisees.To fully understand this metaphor, it helps to visualize a sheepfold.A sheepfold is a place of rest for the sheep and a place of protection.Elements of a Historical Jewish Sheepfold<ul><li>Single narrow entrance (one way in, one way out)</li><li>No physical door (the shepherd was the door)</li><li>Shepherd lying across the entrance at night</li><li>Shared fold (multiple flocks together overnight)</li><li>Individual voice recognition (sheep knew their shepherd’s voice)</li><li>Protection from thieves and predators</li><li>Morning separation (each shepherd calls out his own sheep) &nbsp; Verse 1 &amp; 2: Jesus explains that the only way into the sheepfold is through the door. Remember, the sheepfold is a place of rest and protection. Anyone who tries to enter by climbing the wall is a thief. Jesus enters through the door.</li></ul>Verse 3: The sheep know His (Jesus’) voice, and He knows the names of the sheep. He leads them.Verse 4: Not only does He lead the sheep, but He leads from the front. This is literally the same leadership pattern God demonstrated in Exodus.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-bnx8hjtqnmmlctm938"><img id="bnx8hjtqnmmlctm938" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0htkcYW8uvVtDNN8u374Emqw4mi7KCPcNohzachtVRG6KmcKzJHFjEzKYWM6uO7u.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 90%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="90%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0htkcYW8uvVtDNN8u374Emqw4mi7KCPcNohzachtVRG6KmcKzJHFjEzKYWM6uO7u.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 90%;"></figure>Exodus 13:21 (NIV); “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”Verse 7: Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep.” This is striking because He has already identified Himself as the shepherd—so how can He now also be the door?Historically, in Jewish culture, the shepherd would sit or lie at the entrance of the sheepfold at night. He personally protected the sheep from predators and thieves. Jesus was essentially saying that to reach the sheep, one must go through Him—because He Himself is positioned at the entrance.This means He is the ultimate protector of the sheep.<h2>Ezekiel 34 Connection</h2>What Jesus was saying here had already been declared in Ezekiel 34 by Him.“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel…” (Ezekiel 34:2) Sins of the Shepherds in Ezekiel 34<ul><li>They feed themselves, not the sheep</li><li>They consume the sheep’s resources</li><li>They fail to strengthen the weak</li><li>They do not heal the sick</li><li>They do not bind up the injured</li><li>They do not bring back the strays</li><li>They do not search for the lost</li><li>They rule with force and harshness</li><li>They allow the flock to be scattered</li><li>They expose the sheep to predators</li><li>They fail to restrain exploitation</li><li>They do not seek God’s sheep at all</li></ul>These characteristics are exactly what the Pharisees displayed in John 9. Jesus used this moment to show that Israel’s shepherds (the system) had failed, and that God Himself was now stepping in to shepherd His people.<h3>&nbsp;Conclusion</h3>Ezekiel 34:11–12 (NIV); “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them…”As repeatedly shown throughout Scripture, the Law and the Prophets point to Jesus. Ezekiel 34 was directly prophesying about God coming among His people to establish His own priesthood, leadership and system. Humans were never the enemy of God—we are His creation. So the issue was never the individual pharisees or prophet or Priests.&nbsp;Hebrews 13:20; “May the God of peace… bring back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…”The contrast between the Good Shepherd and the bad shepherd is the contrast between the human system (the Law), which the Pharisees embodied, and God’s system (Grace). The Law cannot save. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He is the One who came to save us, lead us, protect us, and provide for us. As the Door of the sheep, He guarantees our rest. He came to remove the veil beween us and God. There is no more need for Human shepherds &amp; intermediary as it was in the Old System.&nbsp;Ezekiel 34:15–16 (NIV); “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down…”Hebrews 7:24–25; “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him…”&nbsp;

Jesus: The Door of the Sheep

The book of Hosea opens with one of the most unsettling commands in Scripture: “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom” (Hosea 1:2). God commands the prophet Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute, as a living sign of Israel’s spiritual condition. Just as Gomer would prove unfaithful to Hosea, Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord—pursuing other gods despite being bound to Him by covenant. The names of their children—Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah (“No Mercy”), and Lo-Ammi (“Not My People”)—were prophetic declarations of coming judgment against the Northern Kingdom for its persistent idolatry and rebellion (Hosea 1:4–9).Historically, Hosea was sent by God to prophesy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BCE, roughly between 755–722 BCE, in the final decades before Israel’s fall to Assyria (2 Kings 17). His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings, including Jeroboam II—a time of outward prosperity but deep spiritual decay (Hosea 1:1). As the narrative unfolds, Gomer leaves Hosea for other lovers, yet God commands Hosea to pursue and redeem her: “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man” (Hosea 3:1). This act becomes the theological core of the book: though Israel would face real judgment, God’s ultimate aim was restoration.<figure id="figure-hr0yw6t5cmkio3620"><img id="hr0yw6t5cmkio3620" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/179593174/photo/vienna-fresco-of-hosea-prophet.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=ZUOrAnmiJSt-So_yNuI1QSX9ob3PtAbcrONMbItWYKI=" alt="Vienna - Fresco of Hosea prophet" title="Vienna - Fresco of Hosea prophet" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/179593174/photo/vienna-fresco-of-hosea-prophet.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=ZUOrAnmiJSt-So_yNuI1QSX9ob3PtAbcrONMbItWYKI=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><h3>We Are the Adulterous Wife — Gomer</h3>Hosea 1:2 makes the symbolism explicit: “For the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” Gomer represents Israel—and by extension, us.Before Hosea married her, Gomer was already living as a prostitute. From the text, several things are clear about her condition:<ul><li>She was unfaithful (Hosea 2:2)</li><li>She lived in disgrace (Hosea 2:5)</li><li>She continued pursuing former lovers (Hosea 2:5)</li><li>She did not trust her husband to provide food, water, and basic needs (Hosea 2:5)</li><li>She refused to acknowledge that it was her husband who had provided for her (Hosea 2:8)</li><li>She chased after lovers who ultimately failed her (Hosea 2:7)</li></ul><figure id="figure-krdm6g9vurmkiolftx"><img id="krdm6g9vurmkiolftx" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8ZB3Fz8a2biqChjc38oCrPZqTCdgP4thEpC6zZCEsi2esjIW8g5eaQSiPOM5cr7i.png" alt="Job Cries Out to God" title="Job Cries Out to God" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8ZB3Fz8a2biqChjc38oCrPZqTCdgP4thEpC6zZCEsi2esjIW8g5eaQSiPOM5cr7i.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>Despite the security and unconditional love Hosea provided, Gomer remained restless and dissatisfied. Scripture does not leave this up to interpretation—God states plainly that Israel’s condition was one of unfaithfulness.Hosea 4:1 (NIV): “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.”This is not the first time God refers to His people as adulterous:<ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li>Jeremiah 3:20 – “As a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so you have been treacherous to Me.”</li><li>Jeremiah 3:1–3 – “You have played the whore with many lovers.”</li><li>Ezekiel 16:32 – “You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband.”&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul><h3>Jesus Is the True Hosea Who Went to Get Gomer Back</h3>Hosea 3:1 (NIV) says: “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.”<figure id="figure-chv5bt8da2mkiof65v"><img id="chv5bt8da2mkiof65v" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3bdxYMs8U3IxsCbYVgaObr3mXUdt25p7TAu1twsssNdGmjKbU7pgFcq4zyqlUeNo.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3bdxYMs8U3IxsCbYVgaObr3mXUdt25p7TAu1twsssNdGmjKbU7pgFcq4zyqlUeNo.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Whether Hosea’s experience was lived literally or communicated prophetically, the message is unmistakable: God rescues an unfaithful bride.Scripture reveals that this story ultimately points to Christ.<ul><li>Jesus is our Husband</li></ul><ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul style="list-style-type: circle;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: circle;"><li>Isaiah 54:5 (NIV): “Your Maker is your husband.” </li><li>2 Corinthians 11:2 (NIV): “I promised you to one husband, to Christ.”</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>While we (Like Gomer) were with another lovers, He loved us anyway<ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li style="">Romans 5:8 (NIV): “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Jesus paid To get us back just like Hosea paid;</li></ul><ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul style="list-style-type: circle;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: circle;"><li style="">Hosea 3:2 (NIV) “So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley.” </li><li style="">Mark 10:45 (NIV) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li style="">Jesus brought us back into intimacy just like Hosea did</li></ul><ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul style="list-style-type: circle;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: circle;"><li>Hosea 3:3 (NIV) “Then I told her, ‘You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.’”</li><li>John 15:4 (NIV): “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”</li></ul></li></ul><h3>Conclusion</h3>One of the many reasons the Bible stands as the greatest collection of books in human history is because of stories like this. How could a holy God command a prophet to marry a prostitute? Because the story or the analogy is not the point.<figure id="figure-tmr9erwexomkio9a6z"><img id="tmr9erwexomkio9a6z" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2198624847/photo/country-cottage-features.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=hNiQPGnU2ipaJ-Y7ECAJLSi0tP9VfZsY1lVBv2-h_IA=" alt="Country Cottage features" title="Country Cottage features" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2198624847/photo/country-cottage-features.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=hNiQPGnU2ipaJ-Y7ECAJLSi0tP9VfZsY1lVBv2-h_IA=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>From beginning to end, Scripture tells the story of how God planned and executed the restoration of humanity back to a place of intimacy with Himself through Jesus. The Bible is not meant to promote religious obsession or cultural fixation; it reveals God’s character through Christ.Hosea’s prophecies were not sentimental—they included real judgment. Israel was ultimately removed from the land and scattered by Assyria. But prophetically, Jesus took those judgments upon Himself.<ul><li>2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV): “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.</li><li>Romans 3:25 (NIV): “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement.”</li></ul>That is the good news. That is grace—not condemnation.Like Gomer, all we are called to do now is believe and enter His rest.Zion, Rest, and the Restoration of IntimacyIn Scripture, restoration does not end with forgiveness alone—it ends with return. The prophets consistently describe that return as coming back to Zion, the place God chooses to dwell with His people. Zion is not merely geographic; it is relational. It represents nearness, belonging, and rest. “For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling” (Psalm 132:13–14). After judgment, exile, and unfaithfulness, God’s goal was never distance—it was reunion.This is why Hosea’s story does not end with Gomer forgiven but living independently. She is brought back to live with her husband (Hosea 3:3). Forgiveness without intimacy would be incomplete. Likewise, in Christ, we are not merely declared righteous and left on our own—we are brought back into God’s dwelling place. The New Testament makes this explicit: “You have come to Mount Zion… to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:22–24). Zion becomes fulfilled not in stone or geography, but in relational access to God through Christ.<figure id="figure-bc54d3do06fmkiow315"><img id="bc54d3do06fmkiow315" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32bS0m4AhoacG6UasNl9vtEmIrNNh48cKHMURstuDDOwlRFlttdBiRGGcY4MEMj3.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32bS0m4AhoacG6UasNl9vtEmIrNNh48cKHMURstuDDOwlRFlttdBiRGGcY4MEMj3.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>This is where rest enters the story. Rest is not inactivity; it is the end of striving to earn love or ANYTHING from God. Gomer rests because she is chosen. Israel is called back to Zion to rest in what Jesus did. Jesus invites the weary into the same reality: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). To believe the gospel is to stop chasing lovers that cannot satisfy and to return home—to dwell with God, to remain in Christ, and to live from intimacy rather than performance. This is the final movement of Hosea’s prophecy and the heart of the gospel: the adulterous wife restored, brought home, and invited to rest in the love of her faithful Husband.

The Adulterous Wife and the Faithful God

Silhouette jesus christ cross on sunrise background

We have covered the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in the past and it is worth talking about it again. Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee and passes through Samaria, stopping at a town called Sychar near Jacob’s well. While His disciples go into town to buy food, Jesus sits by the well. A Samaritan woman comes to draw water, and Jesus asks her for a drink. Along the line of the conversation, the woman asked Jesus for the living water. Jesus tells her to call her husband. She says she has no husband. Jesus states that she has had five husbands and is currently with a man who is not her husband. The woman acknowledges that He is a prophet.<figure id="figure-3u4apth2eabmk8rc66r"><img id="3u4apth2eabmk8rc66r" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/618535840/photo/there-is-no-more-wine-bible-scene.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=bTyv0lH2YaR7nAcSAt63-QS6u5xea-HarwlebNcsL1A=" alt="There is no more wine bible scene" title="There is no more wine bible scene" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/618535840/photo/there-is-no-more-wine-bible-scene.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=bTyv0lH2YaR7nAcSAt63-QS6u5xea-HarwlebNcsL1A=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Jesus was talking to her about her current situation. However, there is a deeper meaning to this conversation that is often overlooked. We have to go back roughly 740 years back to the year that Israel fell, in order to fully understand what Jesus was talking about. The story is in 2kings 17.Samaria is the capital of the Northern Israel. Assyria captures Samaria. Israelites were deported away from northern Israel. In exchange, foreign people were brought into Northern Israel to live with the remaining remnants. So, in 2 Kings 17:24, 5 different group of people were brought back and they brought back their idols into Israel. (see below)Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel.2 Kings 17:29–31 (ESV) 29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. 30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuthah made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.<h3>The Five Husbands</h3><ul><li>Babylon → Succoth-benoth</li><li>Cuthah → Nergal</li><li>Hamath → Ashima</li><li>Avva → Nibhaz &amp; Tartak</li><li>Sepharvaim → Adrammelech &amp; Anammelech</li></ul>When Jesus was talking to this Samaritan woman about her 5 husbands, He was referring directly back to 740 years ago. &nbsp;Essentially Jesus was talking to Nation of Israel and referring to the 5 different idols that they have brought from outside that they worshipped.We know that God Often refer to Himself as our husband as a Metaphor. (See examples below)Jeremiah 3:14 “Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your husband.So Samaria (Northern Israel) replaced God with these idols. Jesus was referencing this in that story when He told her “You have had five husbands.” Each of these idols were significant deities in that era. We will not go deeper into those idols because that is not the point of the revelation at the well.<h3>The 6th Husband</h3>John 4:18 (ESV) “For you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.<figure id="figure-ctdce4shdmk8rxqz7"><img id="ctdce4shdmk8rxqz7" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1365324542/photo/reliefs-at-walls-in-the-ancient-city-of-babylon-iraq.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=tfsD8cDHSw_oVVOV-vGls49cfqaa6B7_77MN4A1m_qE=" alt="Reliefs at walls in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq" title="Reliefs at walls in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1365324542/photo/reliefs-at-walls-in-the-ancient-city-of-babylon-iraq.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=tfsD8cDHSw_oVVOV-vGls49cfqaa6B7_77MN4A1m_qE=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>About 200 years after Northern Israel fell, Judah also fell. 70 plus years after that, Judah later returns from Babylonian exile (remember story of Daniel). During the Ezra, Nehemiah era, Samaritans were excluded from helping them rebuild the Temple again. &nbsp;Samaritans developed their own religious identity. They recognized only the Torah (first five books of Moses), not the Prophets or Writings. Samaritans build their own temple on Mount Gerizim (which was later destroyed).The 6th Husband is a hybrid system where they believed in Torah but not the prophets while still worshipping the idols represented by the 5 husbands. It is a system of confusion. The woman referenced that confusion below, .John 4:20 (ESV) “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”Jesus told her; The 6th husband that you are with, that identity, is NOT your husband.So, who is the Husband?<h3>Jesus, Our true and 7th Husband.</h3><figure id="figure-yu95ja4nk9mk8spkdg" class=""><img id="yu95ja4nk9mk8spkdg" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1464383776/photo/resurrected-jesus-christ-ascending-above-the-sky-and-clouds-heaven-concept.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=6qtv6mHz_U-qfIruHpfvi5unsGB65Fz9sRaNnXtT9v0=" alt="Resurrected Jesus Christ ascending above the sky and clouds, heaven concept" title="Resurrected Jesus Christ ascending above the sky and clouds, heaven concept" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1464383776/photo/resurrected-jesus-christ-ascending-above-the-sky-and-clouds-heaven-concept.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=6qtv6mHz_U-qfIruHpfvi5unsGB65Fz9sRaNnXtT9v0=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Isaiah 54:5 “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name.."Luckily for the Samaritan woman and all of us, God Himself was standing in front of her to answer the question. &nbsp;This was what led to the famous verses below;John 4:21–24 (NIV) 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship **Jesus is the express Image of the Father. When you see Jesus, you have seen the father. The only way to worship God is to worship him In Spirit and in Truth.What truth?1. The truth that He is our true husband. This is what the institution of marriage prophetically points to. This is directly linked to the fact He gave himself for us the church and He left his Father in heaven to unite with us (written below)Ephesians 5:25–32 (NIV) ; 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife…”32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.2. That we cannot worship Him with idols. This is the 5 husbands in that story.3. That we cannot Worship Him with Law and prophet. The law and the prophet all point to Jesus. But they cannot save. &nbsp;Jesus FULFILLED the REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW. We are saved by Faith in Christ ONLY.&nbsp;Romans 3:20 (NIV) “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”4. He is not looking to be worshipped In Jerusalem, Mount Gerizim or ANY physical location. He wants to be worshipped in Spirit, meaning without any reference to physical things or places.Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

The Mystery of the Five Husbands & The 7th Husband

prayer concept, Human hands open palm up worship with sunrise on cross background

There is an interesting story in Acts 15 that clearly depicts the challenges faced by the early church. A similar challenge continues in the church today: the question of works versus grace. In other words, are we saved by works, or are we saved by grace? Are we saved by grace first and then by a little bit of works? Sometimes this question is loudly debated, and other times it lingers quietly beneath the surface.Acts 15 opens with a serious dispute when some Jewish believers from Judea began teaching that Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. This teaching directly challenged the message Paul and Barnabas had been preaching—that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The disagreement became so intense that the church in Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas, and others to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders. As a result, the early church was forced to confront a foundational question: whether salvation is based on God’s grace or on adherence to religious law.<figure id="figure-asac4tj8amjqak1t4"><img id="asac4tj8amjqak1t4" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/478230570/photo/granada-the-painting-of-st-paul-and-peter.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wHakfQrAnAfp8aVL_2yp0H8AQ-63wOldSpv7OWAMgm0=" alt="Granada - The painting of St. Paul and Peter" title="Granada - The painting of St. Paul and Peter" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/478230570/photo/granada-the-painting-of-st-paul-and-peter.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wHakfQrAnAfp8aVL_2yp0H8AQ-63wOldSpv7OWAMgm0=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The fact that this issue was even debated shows that many Jewish converts were likely still practicing the Mosaic Law after the resurrection and after Pentecost. This is understandable, as the Law had become deeply embedded in their culture. However, we know that Israel’s cultural practices no longer hold spiritual significance. In fact, there is no evidence that they ever had spiritual significance apart from pointing to Jesus.After the apostles and elders met to discuss the issue, two of the most prominent leaders spoke—Peter and James. The contrast between their responses reflects the very tension we still face today.<h3>Peter’s Response</h3>Acts of the Apostles 15:10–11 (NIV): “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”Peter’s response is essentially a summary of the good news. It captures the message of the Bible in its entirety.<ul><li>First, the Law was a yoke.</li><li>Second, there was never a point in Israel’s history when the people were able to bear that yoke. So why place the same burden on non-Israelites? The Law was never meant to save.</li></ul>Romans 3:20 (NIV): “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”<ul><li>Finally, both Jews and Gentiles are saved only by grace.</li></ul><h3>&nbsp;James’ Response</h3>Acts of the Apostles 15:19–21 (NIV): 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”In an effort to not make it difficult for the Gentiles, James proposed a list of practices they should observe in other to be saved (remember that was the context of the issue): abstaining from food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood—because the Law of Moses was still being publicly taught.According to verse 21, James also factored the surrounding social and political climate into his response. Mixing politics with the Gospel of Jesus is a recipe for heresies, and unfortunately, this remains an issue in the church today.<h3>In Conclusion</h3><figure id="figure-jg12w20jebmjqanxwj"><img id="jg12w20jebmjqanxwj" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2197615580/photo/golden-light-beams-shining-through-dust-particles-on-black-background.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=uuft7XsPL4sMH__ujj84f-1PRbuq5w8ej-FU_ADH314=" alt="Golden light beams shining through dust particles on black background" title="Golden light beams shining through dust particles on black background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>At first glance, James’ response may appear reasonable, but it ultimately runs contrary to the message of grace and, in some cases, directly contradicts what Jesus taught. We are saved only by grace. Eating or not eating food polluted by idols has no bearing on our relationship with God once we are saved. Jesus clearly stated that what enters the mouth does not defile a person.Mark 7:18–19 (NIV):“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?”While abstaining from sexual immorality is good, abstinence—and moral behavior more broadly—does not save.The only way to avoid making it difficult for those who have turned to God (if that was truly the goal) was, and still is, to preach the pure Gospel: that salvation comes only by grace. This was Peter’s response. James’ response, though it sounded reasonable, stood in opposition to grace.The goal of this content is not to criticize the Fathers of the faith, such as James—especially with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight—but to identify recurring patterns.

Acts 15: When Grace Was Put on Trial

To further drive home the concept of rest, God also introduced the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee to the Israelites.In the Old Testament, the Sabbatical Year was observed every seventh year. During this year, the land was to rest from cultivation, and the people were commanded not to sow or reap their fields (Leviticus 25:1–7). Debts were released, and the poor were allowed to eat freely from what the land produced on its own (Exodus 23:10–11; Deuteronomy 15:1–2).<figure id="figure-wzc1h63rnmj54rru8"><img id="wzc1h63rnmj54rru8" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2049299296/photo/hands-and-cross-floating-with-glitters-and-religious-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=055qSg9oe0J8q181oR0gmSJbkqLd3rK5IwYzQh4O4Sc=" alt="Hands and cross floating with glitters and religious background" title="Hands and cross floating with glitters and religious background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2049299296/photo/hands-and-cross-floating-with-glitters-and-religious-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=055qSg9oe0J8q181oR0gmSJbkqLd3rK5IwYzQh4O4Sc=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The concept of Jubilee is a further explanation of the Sabbath. We can see more about this in Leviticus 25:8–9, Leviticus 25:13, and Leviticus 25:39–41. In the Old Testament, the Year of Jubilee was the fiftieth year, following seven cycles of sabbatical years. It was after seven cycles of sabbatical years (7 × 7 = 49 years). It was a year set apart by God in which liberty was proclaimed throughout the land. During Jubilee, debts were released, slaves were freed, land was returned to its original families, and the people rested from agricultural labor (Leviticus 25). So essentially, Jubilee is derivative of the Sabbath.This is the basis of our theology: everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. So, the Sabbath and Jubilee point to Jesus Christ. Paul explicitly wrote about this, as shown below:Colossians 2:16–17 (NIV); “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”<h3>Sabbatical Year and Jesus</h3>In the seventh year, God commanded rest for the land. He instructed no sowing or pruning, no organized harvesting, and the land was allowed to rest (Leviticus 25:4–5). By now, we know that this is a direct prophecy that points to our New Covenant with God through Jesus. We are to rest from all works. We explained in the previous content that this is resting from “creative” work. This is illustrated by sowing and pruning.Whatever grew naturally could be eaten. This was available to landowners, servants, foreigners, and animals (Exodus 23:10–11; Leviticus 25:6–7). The idea is ceasing from work. God is directly responsible for the feeding of His children in the Sabbatical Year. As Paul explained in Colossians 2:17, the reality of this is found in Christ. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is directly responsible for our development and growth in Him. Our job is to abide in Him, which simply means we should have faith in Him.John 15:4–5 (NIV): Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Holy Spirit by rest and not by works. The same concept was prophesied through immersion (water baptism), as we explained<a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/-from-mikveh-to-messiah--why-water-baptism-was-only-a-shadow" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/-from-mikveh-to-messiah--why-water-baptism-was-only-a-shadow" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary"> here</a>.Creditors were required to release fellow Israelites from debts in the Sabbatical Year (Deuteronomy 15:1–2). This is directly pointing to Jesus paying our debt.Colossians 2:13–14 (NIV) “.... He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”The poor were allowed to eat freely from the land during the Sabbatical Year. The year functioned as social and economic relief (Exodus 23:11). Again, this is directly pointing to Jesus.Luke 4:18 (NIV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”Matthew 5:3 (NIV): “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”Israelites who had sold themselves into service were released after six years (Exodus 21:2).Exodus 21:2 (NIV): “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.”This is the Gospel in a nutshell.<h3>The Year of Jubilee and Jesus</h3>In the fiftieth year (after 7 × 7 years), liberty was proclaimed throughout the land, and this applied to all inhabitants. This sends the message of celebration. It is good news. It is not a sad occasion. The year of the Jubilee is a celebration. This points directly to Jesus. Jesus explained this when He said that the angels rejoice over every sinner who gives his or her life to Him (Jesus Christ).in the year of the Jubilee, each person returned to their own property. Land that had been sold was restored to the original family (Leviticus 25:10, 13, 28). We covered this extensively<a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion"> here</a>. The concept of returning to the land is about regaining intimacy with God. This is the idea of returning to Zion.Israelites who had sold themselves into servitude were freed in the Year of Jubilee. Families were restored together, “back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.” Essentially, God commanded total restoration. All of these foretells the death, burial, and resurrection of God Himself in human form.2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV); 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: Conclusion;<figure id="figure-99r96w7vmbmj54shzn"><img id="99r96w7vmbmj54shzn" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1500817556/photo/christ-praying-on-the-mount-with-raised-hands.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QmV82vaSizfwXTYDdm0iEp602QRhZIc461AA3uWxnzQ=" alt="Christ praying on the Mount with raised hands" title="Christ praying on the Mount with raised hands" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1500817556/photo/christ-praying-on-the-mount-with-raised-hands.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QmV82vaSizfwXTYDdm0iEp602QRhZIc461AA3uWxnzQ=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>God further explained the concept of salvation by introducing the Sabbath day, the Sabbatical Year, and the Year of Jubilee. The message is the same: salvation by faith in Jesus. We enter rest when we put our faith in Jesus. The idea behind rest is that God restores us back to a place of intimacy with Him strictly through His own doings. It is a gift.&nbsp;Hebrews 4:2–3 (NIV) “Now we who have believed enter that rest.”Jesus explained His mission by quoting from Isaiah:Isaiah 61:1–2 (NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

Christ Uncensored