“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies…” ~ Hosea 10:13a
“The king’s wife had already become a little suspicious after her husband’s delay in returning from the hunt, and when she heard all this talk of Talia, Moon, and Sun she felt burned by something other than the sun…The queen sent [her] secretary to visit Talia on the king’s behalf and tell her that he wanted to see the children. Talia sent them to him with great joy, and that heart of Medea [the queen] ordered the cook to slit their throats, make various little dishes and delicacies out of them, and then serve them to her poor husband…”
Don’t worry! The cook prepares a goat instead, while leading the queen to believe it’s the children. The king eats the meal, and then he and the queen have a rather nasty exchange (not relating to the queen’s trick, as the king does not yet know). In a rage, the king goes off to the countryside (although apparently not to Talia).[1]
Furious as well, the queen sends her secretary to summon Talia. To poor Talia’s surprise, it is the queen and not the king who welcomes her. She mocks Talia, calling her vicious names. Not even that sates her rage, and the queen decides to prepare a bonfire to throw our poor Talia into…[2]
This is a rather fantastical scene, so let’s step back and peel away the “fairy tale” trappings. The queen is in a loveless marriage. She is childless. In the eyes of the world, her position is shaky and her worth is of little value.
The queen is a Sleeping Beloved, too. Her heart has been asleep for far longer than Talia ever was. Her soul is in pain, her wounds are deep. She is unloved, and she knows it.
And then, she sees these beautiful children – the other woman’s children. The queen is faced with her “failure” and her emptiness…and something in her snaps.
Unfortunately, there are many women (and men!) who have a great deal in common with the queen. They feel unloved, and so they “plow wickedness” as they lash out in an attempt to protect themselves from further wounds. This begins a brutal cycle of “injustice” as wounds are given and then received. And with that, they “eat the fruit of lies,” and view their worth as less than what it is.
Yes, it is right to have compassion; however, the rest of the passage in Hosea makes it clear there is no excuse for a hardened heart. Despite the harsh realities of life, we are still called to account for our deeds. No matter how unloved we feel, we must believe the Love of Christ. Otherwise, our pain will lead to wicked, wicked deeds.
Life can be harsh and cruel, but we always have a choice. God’s love is waiting for you. He can heal your wounds, and place a balm upon your soul. He can help you see the light through the darkness, the good through the pain.
Do not allow your heart to sleep its way into stone like the queen did. Listen to the call of Love. You will not regret it.
Sources
[1] Basile, The Tale of Tales, p. 415
[2] Basile, The Tale of Tales, p. 416
