Answer question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer question - Essay Example ounterparts saw marriage as something coming from a divine power – that of a god-father and a goddess-mother who bless the union in marriage rituals and sexual intercourse. Lawler describes pagan marriage as â€Å"syncretistic† (Lawler: 8) or fusing two opposing meanings – that of both divine and human action. Fertility from human sexual intercourse is considered a divine blessing. 2. Discuss what you think about the story of Hosea and Gomer. Explain the understanding of God that is the basis of the pagan custom of â€Å"temple prostitution.† State how what Hosea said about the relationship between God and Israel differed from that pagan custom. Hosea followed God’s command to him to marry Gomer, a harlot who participated in sexual rituals in temples as re-enactment of the sexual intercourse between pagan god Baal and his wife and sister, Anat. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer mirrored the relationship between God and Israel because it was unconditional. Although Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, he remained faithful to her and even bought her back when she was auctioned off to men. God’s love for Israel was the same. Even if Israel turned its back on God in favor of Baal, God still saved it from ruin. Pagan marriage is conditional and is open to divorce while marriage in Jewish tradition is supposed to be unconditional and does not approve of divorce. Anachronism means something that is not appropriate to the times. In this reading, it is reflected on two things: love and divorce. Hosea’s account of Gomer’s and Israel’s faithlessness not being reasons to turn away from them justifies the marriage covenant. Staying with them and remaining faithful is the true meaning of unconditional love. Marriage is a covenant that spouses should enter with loyalty, service and obedience. Love comes from divine covenant to human marriage, and Yahweh’s covenant fidelity to Israel should be emulated by all married couples. Thus, in Malachi’s book, Yahweh confirmed