ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Pulelulu Tisema 6, 2023

The Holy Christian Jezreel

Ko e Sisilili Kalisitiane Haohaoa

HOSEA 1:4

AND THE LORD SAID TO [HOSEA], "CALL HIS NAME JEZREEL, FOR IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE I WILL PUNISH THE HOUSE OF JEHU FOR THE BLOOD OF JEZREEL, AND I WILL PUT AN END TO THE KINGDOM OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

HOSEA 1:4

Pea folofola ‘a Sihova kiate ia, Fakahingoa ia ko Sisilili; he ‘oku toe si‘i pea u ‘eke ‘a e toto ‘o Sisilili ki he fale ‘o Sehu, pea te u ‘ai ke ngata ‘a e pule‘anga ‘o e fale ‘o ‘Isileli,

Hosea and Gomer had three children: Jezreel, No-Mercy, and Not-My-People. Each of their names prophesied both punishment and promise. The latter two are obvious: the Lord would reject and show no mercy to Israel (1:6, 9), but later he would have mercy and reclaim them as his people (2:23). But what is the symbolism of Jezreel? The Hebrew name Yizre'el means "God [E] sows [zara]." Jezreel was the site of idolatry and bloodshed in the northern kingdom. For these sins God would punish Israel. However, God promises that later he will bless the desolate valley of Jezreel, for he says, "I will sow [zara] her for myself in the land" (2:23). Jezreel ("God sows"), which he destroyed, would, by divine grace, later live up to the meaning of its name.

Peter, referencing Hosea, says to the church, "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Pet. 2:10). He could have added: Once you were not Jezreel, but now you are Jezreel, for God has sown within you the salvation and life of Christ, his Seed.

Thanks be to you, Almighty God, for making your church the new Jezreel.