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Here the parallel between Gomer’s and Israel’s adultery alluded to in ch. 1 is developed fully. God’s people have forsaken the Lord, their covenant “husband,” in a misguided attempt to obtain the agricultural blessings that they thought the Canaanite fertility gods could provide (vv.5, 13). Actually, it was God who gave those blessings (v.8). So now he will take them away in order to show the impotence of the idols (v.7) and the shameful folly of Israel’s behavior (vv.10, 13). But the ultimate purpose of this deprivation is not punishment. It is an attempt to bring the people to their senses and turn them back to God (vv.7, 14). This is an important point about the redemptive purpose of divine judgment.
This theme is fully developed in vv.14-23. As v.15 shows, God hopes that when Israel once again experiences a desert, she will be reminded of that first desert experience where God demonstrated his love to her. “In that day” (vv.16, 21) is one of the first occurrences of what will become a common prophetic formula to express those moments in time when God intervenes, whether in judgment or deliverance. Here God promises that once his people have finally recognized where the real source of blessing lies, he will pour out upon them the blessings of peace (v.18) and abundance (vv.21-23). Although Israel has experienced this promise to a degree, its ultimate fulfillment awaits the millennial kingdom.
Vv.19 and 20 are of special significance because of the key theological terms contained in them. The words righteousness, justice, love, compassion, faithfulness, and knowledge, are at the heart of OT religion.