In order to understand sin, we need to understand that we are not merely rebelling against a king or straying from a shepherd, but that we are committing adultery and breaking the heart of a God who has entered into a marriage covenant with us. In the book of Hosea, we see one of the clearest Biblical images of God as a wronged lover who sacrifices everything in order to save his wayward bride.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Jeremiah 2-4; Ezekiel 16; Isaiah 54; Matthew 9:14-15.

The biblical concept of justice emphasizes restoring the wholeness of the world. However, we contribute to the breakdown of the society when we put ourselves first. In Isaiah, we are shown some of the ways that God identifies with the poor, calls us to change our self-centered hearts, and works towards restoring the shalom of the world.