HOSEA 6
“Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.” – Hosea 6:1-3
HOSEA 6 LET US RETURN TO THE LORD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
In this account, Hosea invites the people of God to return to Him. He humbly reminded the Israelites that although they have sinned, there is a time for healing and binding them up again. We witness Hosea’s knowledge of God and his loving kindness and steadfast love and leads the people to return to the Lord as his love for them never changes despite all their sinfulness. Hosea presents how much God loves them just like a parent would unconditionally love a child and discipline is part of that loving kindness. When we are being disciplined, it may be very painful at the time that we are being corrected, but that is what true love is. The one who loves us deeply will never want us to go astray.
Verse 2 shows us again how much Hosea knew the Lord. He prayed confidently and trust that God will restore his people back again. He knew he is a promise keeper and he will never abandon his people. In this prayer, there is a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus as he mentions that on the third day, God will raise them up. Just like how Jesus was torn on Calvary, died and raised up to life again.
Verse 3 summons the people of God to get to know him more. We are given his word so we can build up our faith and our intimacy with him. His mercy is abounding as Lamentation 3:22 says. His steadfast love never ceases. It is new every morning just as certain as the rising of the sun. Clark comments on the verse as surely as the early and the latter rain comes: “The first, to prepare the earth for the seed; this fell in autumn: the second, to prepare the full ear for the harvest; this fell in spring. Here is strong confidence; but not misplaced, however worthless the persons were.”
REFLECTION
- Why is it important for us to return to the Lord especially after sinning?
