As I mentioned last Tuesday, every week leading up to the Andrew Peterson concert (July 19th) we’ll put up a new song from Andrew’s new album: Resurrection Letters, Volume 2.

This week’s song is probably my favorite on the album. It’s written from the perspective of Gomer, Hosea’s wife. If you don’t know the story of Hosea and Gomer, I encourage you to read it (found in the book of Hosea).

    But here are the basics: God tells the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute, so he does; her name is Gomer. Despite becoming his wife, Gomer again and again leaves her husband to go back into prostitution. In spite of this adultery, Hosea pleads with his wife to come home, and actually pays for her (redeems her), so that she will be his again.

The reason God tells Hosea to go back and redeem his unfaithful wife is because it points to a haunting truth. God’s people have been unfaithful again and again, yet he still loves us, he still redeems us, and he still brings us home. This is only possible because of the life, work, death, and resurrection of Christ!

Every time I lay in the bed beside you, Hosea,

Hosea, I hear the sound of the streets of the city.

My belly growls like a hungry wolf and I let it prowl till my belly’s full.
Hosea, my heart is a stone.

Please believe me when I say I’m sorry, Hosea,

Hosea, you lovable, gullible man.

I tell you that my love is true till it fades away like a morning dew.

Hosea, leave me alone.

Here I am in the Valley of Trouble.

Just look at the bed that I’ve made: badlands as far as I can see.

There’s no one here but me, Hosea.

I stumbled and fell in the road on the way home, Hosea.

Hosea, I lay in the brick street like a stray dog.

You came to me like a silver moon with the saddest smile I ever knew.

Hosea carried me home again - Home again.

You called me out to the Valley of Trouble

just to look at the mess that I’ve made,

a barren place where nothing can grow.

One look and my stone heart crumbled--it was a valley as green as jade.

I swear it was the color of hope.

You turned a stone into a rose, Hosea.

I sang and I danced like I did as a young girl, Hosea.

Hosea, I am a slave and a harlot no more.

You washed me clean like a summer rain

and you set me free with that ball and chain.

Hosea, I threw away the key.

I’ll never leave.