A New Name
As He also says in Hosea, “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ and her, who was not beloved, ‘Beloved.’” “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they shall be called sons of the living God.’” Romans 9:25-26
Sons of the living God – Hosea brings God’s judgment. Once the people of God were called by His name. Disobedience led to the end of God’s forbearance. I AM became “not I AM.” But even Hosea prophesied restoration. The people who were once called “not My people” will once again be called by God’s name, but this time they will be called by something a bit new – sons of the living God.
While we are quite familiar with the words, “sons of the living God,” it is found only once in the Tanakh, in Hosea 1:10. Paul seizes this rare occurrence to provide a midrash (an interpretation that expands the simple, straightforward meaning of the text). Paul finds an opening in this new name for God’s people to include the Gentiles. No longer will the people of YHWH be called by the simple name, “My people.” Now they will be called by an inclusive name – “sons of the living God.” With this rabbinic technique, Paul brings the Gentiles into the Kingdom in one fell swoop. Just as God brings restoration to disobedient Israel, now God brings salvation to lost Mankind. All are included in this new name. No one who vows allegiance to the King can be excluded. The door is kicked wide open. Judgment that leads to chastisement on Israel is the means by which Gentiles are welcomed into the Kingdom. God takes the rebellion of men and reverses its impact.
Do we realize how much we owe to the nation of Israel? Do we comprehend that their suffering led to our invitation? Yes, they were disobedient. God brought a terrible judgment upon them in order that they might be restored. But in the process, Paul shows us that this punishment actually opens the way for our deliverance. If we owe Israel because God used Israel to bring the message of forgiveness to the world, how much more do we owe Israel because God’s heavy hand on that nation led to His compassion on those who were considered outsiders? Paul’s use of Hosea’s text affirms God’s unwarranted compassion on any of His choosing – on those who for 1,000 years disobeyed and rejected Him and on those who were by birth left outside the camp. Hosea is the prophet of judgment and restoration, and he is the prophet who speaks secretly of God’s heart for all Mankind. Israel bears the sins of acting like the Gentiles just as Israel’s Messiah bears the sins of the world. One bears the sins justifiably, the other bears the sins sacrificially. Both are necessary.
Now we are grafted in. Now we take on the load-bearing responsibility of a nation called to offer itself as a substitute for the punishment deserved by the guilty. Now you and I join those who bore sins so that others might be ushered in. Are you willing to be chastised for the deliverance of the lost?
Topical Index: sons of the living God, Hosea 1:9, Romans 9:25-26
It might be worth reading this again.
It is somewhat odd but very interesting what we owe Israel.
Looking at the parallels:
Israel – disobedient – carries burden of all humanity’s sins
Yeshua – innocent – carries burden of all humanity’s sins
Sons of God – become so because of the above. They are forgiven but are sometimes still disobedient – carries the burden of all humanity’s sins
It’s obviously not an exact parallel since one was innocent and the other disobedient
Skip, would you please be so kind as to elaborate on this?
While the parallels do exist, the crucial difference is that some carry the CONSEQUENCES of disobedience while one carries the GUILT of disobedience. More later. I am traveling today and tomorrow.
The focus here is the “new name.” We who were outside the covenant promises of the nation Israel and have been adopted through the regenerative and restorative an reviving power of the Ruach Hakodesh have been received and renewed into a new relationship with the Living G-d. We are now called (because of the covenant of blood) the children of the living G-d.
Sons and daughters of the King of kings and LORD of lords. We (who are called by His name) are “joint-heirs” with Christ. (according to the word of YHWH). Abram became Abraham. Why? (Skip- this is your department. Saul became Paul. You (fellow carbon-units) know me (not very well-I’m afraid) by the “name” of Carl. My name is the representation of who I am. When someone mentions “Carl” or when someone calls my name (hey you!)- I realize and recognize -er.. someone is attempting to communicate with me. This is so “Hebrew”- I’m starting to fidget..
Read the book of Ruth (for starters). Look (carefully) at the “name” of each of the characters in the storyline. (BTW- this is more than a “story”- these are real people-real places)- just like us. (you are a real person-right?-lol!!).
Now- may we look again at G-d’s name? or the name “Jesus” – or to be more “kosher”- Yeshua. Why was He called Yeshua? Does the Bible give us any answers? Selah. Once again- I’m starting to fidget. To move about restlessly in my recliner. -“What is His name or what is His Son’s name if you can say?” lol!
Son of G-d and son of man. Or the name “Israel.” -Wow!- This name will keep us busy for awhile… Israel- Prince with G-d. A person, a people, a place- Israel. A picture, a prophecy, a promise: Israel. A region, a race- a relationship: Israel.
Does it matter we are called the children of the living G-d? (I’ve got a serious case of the “fidgets” now..lol!). Does this new relationship make any difference in the way I think, speak, act or live? If the living G-d is my Father, my ABBA- would this have any impact on me?
I’ve got to go now- (no longer able to sit still,..-sorry!) Maybe more later- when (or if) I calm down..lol!
Do you know Him? Who is this man? -Who is this “King of glory?”
So interesting that Hosea was Yehoshua’s name until Moses gave him a new name.
Nu 13:8 of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun;
Nu 13:16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.
“To him that overcometh will I give…a white stone, and in the stone a new name written.” (Revelation 2:17)
I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord:
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.
There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
“Beloved, now are we children of G-d, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is.” (1 John 3.2)
And the white robed angels sing the story,
“A sinner has come home.”
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam.
I was humbly kneeling at the cross,
Fearing naught but God’s angry frown;
When the heavens opened and I saw
That my name was written down.
In the Book ’tis written, “Saved by Grace,”
O the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven, and I know
By His blood I am made whole.