The Door of Hope: Thoughts from Hosea Chapters 1-2

By: Lydia Riley

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

Hosea was asked of the Lord to be an object lesson for Israel and Judah at great personal expense. He was asked to do the unthinkable, to love a woman of whoredoms and to love children of whoredoms. He gave his faithful and devoted love to someone defiled and unworthy, one who he knew would be unfaithful and would break his heart into a million pieces. He is a picture of the ever faithful One: Jehovah (the Lord).

Three children were born, and God gave three distinct names for each of them with deeper national meaning: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-ammi. “Lo” before each of the words here in Hebrew means “No” or “Not” … “Lo-”ruhamah means “Not received mercy” and “Lo-”ammi means not my child/not my people. 

Interestingly enough, a father’s love prevails in his own tender names for these children that the Bible clearly says were children of whoredoms (Hosea 2:4).  Hosea begins chapter 2 with “Say ye unto your brethren Ammi; and to your sisters Ruhamah. Plead with your mother …” Hosea called them “Ammi” (my child) and “Ruhamah” (mercy) -- Removing the negative “Lo” and shortening to a new special name – each child received a new name from their father meaning “one who is my child/my people” and “one who has received mercy.” 

Chapter two continues with the revealing of faithful love and provision for a wife who has been so unfaithful and has run to other lovers. A hedge of thorns and a wall were needed to keep this woman at home; she had run away so many times. 

The tone changes in verse 14 where God speaks of alluring her with comforting words, bringing her into a wilderness, and to “the valley of Achor for a door of hope …” Have you noticed that often God has to get our attention in the dry and lonely places of our lives? He is there waiting with His words, His comfort, and His hope.

Let’s look at this Valley in this broken woman’s life and each of us can surely relate in some way with the frailty, brokenness, and “prone-to-wonder” flesh that we each live in. There is hope! Even in the deepest valleys, God has a Door of Hope that He is ready to open up for you, beckoning and calling you to come inside – Step into the door of hope he has opened! 

(Hosea 2:14-23) / In This Valley, this “Door of Hope” is:

*A singing place (“and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth” vs. 15)

*A separated place (“as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt” vs. 15)

*A special place (“thou shalt call me Ishi;” <my husband>) instead of “Baali” <my lord> vs. 16)

*A safe place (“I will break the…sword and the battle out of the earth;… lie down safely.” vs. 18)

*A significant place (“I will betroth thee unto me for ever; … in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.” Vs. 19-20) 

Forever her life would be changed from walking into this “Door of Hope” while in the Valley of Achor – Finally, she would come to know the Lord – truly know Him – in an intimate way, realizing His True Name and forgetting all others. This was a life-changing experience! He offered His presence, His peace, His provision – all abundant and sufficient - all for her to experience and enjoy.

This beautiful chapter ends with a full revelation of how he began. (Verse 23 expounds on the full meaning of verse 1.) Listen to this powerful verse of hope! “I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy:” (Remember the little girl Lo-ruhamah who is now called by her new name “Ruhamah”?!) … “and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people;” (Remember the little boy Lo-ammi who is now lovingly called “Ammi”?!) … and they shall say, “Thou art my God.” What a wonderful love story of mercy and faithfulness. What are you waiting for? Just step inside the door … There is hope!

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” -Jesus