Hosea 2:19
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
God binds and joins his people to himself forever in an everlasting covenant of betrothal. This lasting covenant is renewed with his repentant people, restoring them to enduring relationship with him. In the last days it is renewed with his commandment-keeping people.
The betrothal pictures the covenant as a marriage, expressing the sacred and enduring union between Christ and his church. That same lasting, sacred bond joins Christ to the individual believer. The marriage image shows a bond in which God pledges to be their God and his people are pledged to belong to him alone.
God grounds this bond in righteousness and in judgment, and in lovingkindness and in mercies. Together with the next verse the betrothal is also grounded in faithfulness, making the full foundation righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness. The marriage relation is established through Christ's redeeming love and sacrifice.
The everlasting relationship is promised to those who obey him. Through this relationship his people come to know the Lord, truly knowing him in a life of holiness and sanctification.