July 26

A Change of Name

In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’ For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked. — Hos 2:16-17 BSB

That day has come. We no longer see God as a harsh master or tyrant like Baal. We are not under the law, but under grace. Now, we know Jehovah as our beloved husband—our Ishi. He is our Lord in love, bound to us by the sacred bond of relationship. We obey Him, not out of fear, but out of love. No longer do we tremble under His command, but we rejoice in His affection. The slave has become a child, and the task has turned into joy.

Is this your experience, dear reader? Has God’s grace cast out fear and filled your heart with love? How blessed we are in this! We now call the Lord’s day a delight, and worship is no longer a burden. Prayer has become a privilege, and praise is like a holiday. To obey is a joy, and giving to God’s cause is a feast. Everything has been made new. Our hearts are filled with music, and our mouths overflow with praise. Blessed be our heavenly Ishi forever!