DB

COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD

Hosea 6:1-11

“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
    but he will heal us;
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds. (1)

In this chapter, God speaking through Hosea invites the Israelites to repentance and to receive healing in spite of all their backsliding. Though their love was like the morning mist, God wanted to call them back into a right relationship with Him. This invitation is very personal and it is meant for all who love God and who long to be near Him.

First, God’s invitation (1-3). What is repentance? A proper definition might be something like: Repentance is a change of mind and heart. Repentance is to turn about-face and to make a 180 degree turn. Hosea 6:1a gives us a very apt Bible definition. Repentance is simply to “return to the LORD.” Hosea invites the backslidden Israelites in this word: “Come, let us return to the LORD.” But how can sinful human beings return to the Holy God? We first need His invitation and His promise to heal us. That is exactly what the opening verse gives us. God invites us to return to Him and He promises to heal us and to bind up our wounds. Although God had severely judged Israel and let them fall into the hands of their enemies, his purpose was not to destroy them. His ultimate purpose was to restore them. He wanted to heal their wounds and bring them back to the covenant relationship with Him as their God. 

“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence” (2). This is a great promise. God wanted to restore them in just three days. Doesn’t this remind you of Jesus being raised on the third day? I don’t know if that is what Hosea meant but as I look at this verse with my NT lens in place, I see the living God and the Risen Jesus in this verse. He was raised on the third day, which meant that sinners can be revived and restored to new life and a right relationship with God in Christ. This is the essence of the gospel. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”(3)

We press on to acknowledge the LORD. Twice the prophet repeats the verb “acknowledge.” Repentance is also to acknowledge the LORD. Repentance would not be complete if we do not acknowledge the LORD. Every day I awake, I must acknowledge the LORD my God. He is with me. He was with me this morning to get up early and listen to His word in my QT. Already, the winter snow of God's grace has fallen on the quiet ground to wash away the dark stains of the past. Already, the spring rains are coming to water our hearts through the words of God that shower upon us. How beautiful it is to feel the winter snow and the cool spring rain on my face! 

O Lord, your grace is like winter snow

that comes from above

causing me to grow.

Your word is like spring rain

falling on my face and shoulders

Making me new again.

Second, like a morning mist (4-11).

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears” (4).

We sense the broken shepherd heart of God who is our loving Father as He rebukes Ephraim and Judah, for their love was like a morning mist and like the early dew that disappears. It reminds me of Jesus as he lamented over his generation and over his disciples’ lack of faith. “O sinful and adulterous generation! How long shall I put up with you? How long shall I stay with you?” Here, I see how much my human love is like a morning mist and the early dew that disappears so quickly. The burning sense of God’s presence and the warmth of His word should stay with me all the day long, not just during my quiet time. God calls me to love God with all my heart and soul and strength (Dt 6:5). 

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (6).

Here is another charge against His people. God was wearied by their religiosity. He wanted much more than keeping religious rituals and making many sacrifices. He wanted mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. He says of the priests, “As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests…” If the priests themselves were doing such evil things, how much more then were the common folks? The situation of Israel is familiar to us today. We see and hear all sorts of crimes happening every day. But the worst crime might be that of the “silent majority” who go to church on Sunday but close their eyes to what is going on during the rest of the week. The worst sin might be the sin of omission, of doing nothing about what is happening. Am I one of them?

Here, God wants much more than my attendance at worship service on Sunday, a few meetings and weekly Bible study. He wants me to take notice of hurting people and show them mercy. He wants me to speak out of injustice. God calls me to be a channel of His grace, love and mercy to the hurting world around me.

Lord, I respond to your gracious invitation. Let my love for you be more than a morning mist. Help me to have your heart for those who are lost and hurting around me. Remember those who are sick and hurting. Restore your children Chris and Charles. Heal M John Mun's shattered arm and make him whole again. Bless M David Kim (Tempe) to live a new life and be healed of cancer. Bless your precious servant M Maria Lee to fully recover and to experience your presence while in the hospital. Bless my sons Paul and John to grow as great servants of God and to marry women of faith and holy mission. Bless Nathan and Rich my Bible students to grow through the spring rain of your words. I pray for your blessings on all the upcoming conferences (Staff, Europe, CIS). Help me to serve as a guide and as a Bible teacher for the USA/Canada annual staff conference. Make me a channel of your grace and mercy today. Bless our broken world through the gospel of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Return to the LORD and acknowledge Him!