When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, that he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the latter husband turns against her, writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house, or if the latter husband who took her to be his wife dies, then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (vv. 1-4)

God says, “If a husband divorces his wife and she leaves him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her again? Would that land not be completely defiled? But you are a prostitute with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 3:1)

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley. Then I said to her, “You shall live with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute, nor shall you have another man; so I will also be toward you.” (Hosea 3:1-3)

We all know the story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer in the Book of Hosea. According to the law, Hosea was forbidden to bring back his wife. But that was what God instructed Hosea to do. That does not mean that God promotes sinning. Many people interpret the law literally and misunderstand the true meaning of the law. The law is about love for God and His people. Only God can love. God is love. And this love is self-sacrificing love, which Jesus Christ showed on the cross.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

The history of Israel nation teaches us about our sinful nature and stupidity. And we learn about God’s mercy, love, and faithfulness through their history. If we interpret the law as the way to salvation, we have no understanding of the law. God is above the law and He is not judged by His own law. The law was given to people to reveal our sins. Keeping the law is not the way to salvation but a result of salvation.

Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. (Galatians 3:19)

I have been to many different churches. And I see that theologians and ministers use the law as leverage to slavery. They incur guilt in people using the law. They are not interested in keeping the law. Instead, they want to make people their slaves. They insist that the law is the way to salvation (or righteousness). They say that Christ also had to keep the law perfectly. Thus, they preach salvation by works. This is why the Active Obedience of Christ must be removed. While they appear to promote keeping the law, their churches tolerate and even promote lawlessness. They accept adultery and say that they must forgive. And they promote others and themselves keep sinning, which I have witnessed in the Reformed church I went to. It is lawful that God is against those evildoers. They appear to love the law but in fact, they despise and hate the law of God. About these evildoers, the Psalms mention frequently about their end. That is why they hate singing the Psalms. The pandemic is the white horse.

The law is holy but is useful only to those living on the earth because it reveals one’s sins. However, there is the law of love and freedom that continues for eternity. Only one with the Holy Spirit can love because only God can truly love. The Bible is not a book about history. All words are for our education to stand firm till the Lord comes back. Only those who have received the Holy Spirit will endure.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:18-19)