The concept of being "wooed" in the biblical context often relates to the idea of God drawing His people to Himself with love and compassion. This theme is prevalent throughout Scripture, where God is depicted as a loving suitor, seeking a relationship with His people, Israel, and by extension, all believers.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the imagery of God wooing His people is vividly portrayed in the prophetic books. One of the most notable examples is found in the book of Hosea. God commands the prophet Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness. Despite Israel's infidelity, God promises to allure her back to Himself. Hosea 2:14 states, "Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly." This passage highlights God's persistent love and His desire to restore the broken relationship with His people.

The Song of Solomon also provides a metaphorical depiction of love and wooing, often interpreted as an allegory of God's love for His people. The mutual affection and longing between the bride and groom in this poetic book reflect the deep, intimate relationship God desires with His followers.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the theme of wooing is evident in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus' ministry on earth was characterized by His invitation to all people to come to Him and find rest. In Matthew 11:28-30 , Jesus extends a gracious invitation: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

The parables of Jesus also illustrate the concept of wooing. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) depicts a father eagerly awaiting the return of his wayward son, symbolizing God's readiness to welcome repentant sinners back into His fold.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the idea of being wooed by God underscores His initiative in the salvation process. It emphasizes God's proactive love and grace, drawing individuals to Himself. This divine wooing is not coercive but is characterized by love, patience, and a desire for a willing response from the heart of the believer.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, often speaks of God's calling and choosing of believers. In Romans 8:30 , Paul writes, "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This calling can be seen as a form of divine wooing, where God draws individuals into a saving relationship with Himself.

Practical Application

For believers, understanding the concept of being wooed by God can deepen their appreciation of His love and grace. It serves as a reminder of the personal and relational nature of faith, encouraging believers to respond to God's love with devotion and obedience. The imagery of wooing also inspires believers to share the message of God's love with others, inviting them to experience the transformative relationship that God offers through Jesus Christ.(imp. & p. p.) of Woo.551. apeirastos -- untried, untempted
... 551/ ("untemptable"), only occurring in Js 1:13, refers to God's nature as
of being tempted, ie He can not be wooed (enticed) by sin. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/551.htm - 7k

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
... He has wooed and then wooed more, and a bit longer, gently, persistently, up and
away and apart until at last the man's eyes were trained away from the lower ...
/.../quiet talks on the crowned christ of revelation/iii a sight of the crowned.htm

Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility
... All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
Now, these people whom God had cast away had been wooed, had been sought ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/sovereign grace and mans responsibility.htm

Further Objections from St. Paul Answered.
... here) directing (his speech) to such as he denotes above""very young widows," who,
after being, "apprehended" in widowhood, and (subsequently) wooed for some ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter xiii further objections from st.htm

Field Hymns.
... its exhortation with a new word, "To be wise," "to implore," "to return," and "to
be blest" were natural cumulatives that summoned and wooed the sinner ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xii field hymns.htm

Through Fire.
... life. We can understand that God wooed her especially to such a life of
heart devotion as a preparation for the after part. And ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/through fire.htm

Further Diplomacy
... Turned from Siptah for thee! How thou wilt marvel when thou learnest that I never
turned from Siptah nor wooed thee with a single glance but for Siptah's sake. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxvi further diplomacy.htm

Knots.
... And yonder across the board sits the man so faithfully wooed, yet dead-set in his
inner heart on a dark purpose, more evil in its outcome than he realizes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/knots.htm

The Spirit Switchboard.
... In the power-house where the electricity is being wooed into man's harnessing, or
generated, as the experts say, is found a switchboard, or switch-room with a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the spirit switchboard.htm

The one Purpose of Prayer.
... But where we will not be wooed up to that height, He comes down to the
highest level we will come up to, and works with us there. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the one purpose of prayer.htm

A Prayer when one Begins to be Sick.
... Oh what a world of sin have I committed against thee, whilst thy long-sufferance
expected ray conversion, and thy blessings wooed me to repentance! ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/a prayer when one begins.htm

Wooed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Woo. Multi-Version Concordance
Wooed (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 25:39 When David heard that ...
/w/wooed.htm - 6k

Woof (9 Occurrences)

/w/woof.htm - 10k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... "It was at On that Joseph wooed and won the dark-skinned Asenath, the daughter of
the high priest of its great temple." This was a noted university town, and ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Woodworker's (1 Occurrence)

/w/woodworker's.htm - 6k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... If the traditional view that Solomon wooed and won the Shulammite be true, the
Solomonic authorship may even yet be defended, though the linguistic argument ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Song (207 Occurrences)
... If the traditional view that Solomon wooed and won the Shulammite be true, the
Solomonic authorship may even yet be defended, though the linguistic argument ...
/s/song.htm - 78k

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