Hosea 2:23
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
God will plant and establish His scattered people throughout the earth by gathering them into His church, having mercy on those who had no mercy and calling those who were not His people His people, until they answer Him as their God. The promise foretells that the Gentiles would be brought through the gospel into His kingdom and church to become His people. That gathering forms a new Israel grafted into the old olive tree, as whole Gentile communities receive the gospel through continued labor despite Jewish rejection. Israel's failure as a nation does not stop this purpose, for He still saves a faithful remnant and receives all who return to Him. In the last days the promise is fulfilled in His renewed covenant with His commandment-keeping people, who yield themselves to Him in willing and complete obedience and are acknowledged as His treasured people, and this calls for carrying the message of truth to all peoples and places through worldwide preaching, including neglected fields.
Mercy and Covenant Restoration
To sow her in the earth is to renew and establish a people throughout the earth by gathering them into the church as His own. That gathering reaches those who had not received mercy and those who were not called His people, bringing them to Himself in every place. The promise is that those who had not obtained mercy will receive mercy, those who were not His people will be called His people, and they will answer by acknowledging Him as their God. This is a restoration of covenant relationship, in which He claims them and they claim Him. The same mercy that gathers Gentiles into His people forms a new Israel grafted into the old olive tree, with whole communities receiving the gospel.
Those who yield themselves to Him in willing and complete obedience are acknowledged by Him as His people, and they respond by acknowledging Him as their God. He regards such obedient ones as His treasured people. In the last days of earth's history this promise is fulfilled in His renewed covenant with His commandment-keeping people. There He shows mercy to those who had not obtained mercy, claims as His people those who were not His people, and is acknowledged by them as their God.
Gentile Inclusion and Gospel Mission
The promise foretells that outsiders would be brought into divine favor and belonging through the proclamation of the good news, becoming full members of the kingdom and the church. Those who had not received compassion would receive compassion, those who had not been called a people would be called a people, and they in turn would acknowledge Him as their God. To sow in the earth describes this worldwide gathering into His church.
That gathering formed a new Israel grafted into the old olive tree. Whole communities received the message as the work continued steadily among Gentile populations. This advance went forward even where there was rejection by the Jews, with those outside Israel welcomed, shown mercy, and made His people.
The prophecy also explains the larger purpose to call both Gentiles and Israelites, so that national failure does not block divine saving action. A faithful remnant is still saved, and those who return are still received. The same promise therefore directs the message of truth to every people and place, including neglected fields, through worldwide preaching that embraces the Gentiles.