COME and let us RETURN TO THE LORD!
September
16 Bible Reading: Hosea Chapters 4-6
COME and let us RETURN TO THE LORD
"Come, and let us return to the
Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind
us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up,
that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the
Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like
the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)
In the above
verses, prophet Hosea looks beyond both the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities
down to the ultimate day when Israel as a nation will be truly converted (Jer
31:31–34) and God will set up His millennial kingdom over His people and reign
for a thousand years. In response to the Assyrian and Babylonian captivity, a
remnant will come to this recognition; but in that day the entire nation will
come to this realization.
The initial
verses (1–3) are Israel’s response to God’s call to repentance (5:15). At first
it seems genuine and heartfelt, but upon closer examination, we see that no sin
is specifically confessed. Their repentance is shallow and insincere, which is
apparent from the rest of the chapter. True repentance only comes later on when
the nation of Israel repudiates its idolatry and acknowledges their need for
God’s grace.
When God’s
people truly repent, God is eager to restore His relationship with them. God’s
restored presence and blessings would be like the rain that waters and renews
the earth. The latter rains of Israel came in the spring and caused the plants
to grow. The former rains came in the
autumn and softened the ground for
plowing and sowing.
Let us
understand that the call to return to the Lord is one of the central messages
of Hosea (see 2:7; 3:5; 5:4, 15). True
repentance and conversion will bring reconciliation that includes healing of
our wounds. When we come back to God, He brings the dawning of a new day
with the refreshing showers. The God who has chastens us will also heal and
revive us. Why do we delay anymore to return
to God in humble repentance?
"Return to Me," says the Lord of hosts, "and I will return to you." (Zech 1:3)
