A Call to Repentance
“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.
Impenitence of Israel and Judah
“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, (Or faithfulness or loyalty) and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
“But like men (Adam) they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt treacherously with Me. Gilead is a city of evildoers and [Lit. foot-tracked]defiled with blood. As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; surely they commit lewdness. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the harlotry [spiritual adultery] of Ephraim; Israel is defiled. Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you, when I return the captives of My people.”
WOW! Now we are learning just how terrible things have gotten in Hosea’s Israel. “Gilead is a city of evildoers and [Lit. foot-tracked]defiled with blood. As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; surely they commit lewdness. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the harlotry [spiritual adultery] of Ephraim; Israel is defiled.” Gilead is the area east of the Jordan that Moses allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh because of its excellent grazing lands.Ramoth Gilead was one of the cities of refuge to which accidental murderers could flee for sanctuary. Now the priests have become robbers and murderers. God is so revolted by the actions of His people that He refers to it as “spiritual harlotry.”
Once more, God is pleading with His people to repent so that He can pardon them. “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.” God is still hoping to restore His people. “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.”
The land of Israel has always been heavily dependent on two rainy seasons, the latter and former rain referred to in these verses. Without these rains, agriculture in Hosea’s time would be impossible, and crop failures would mean famine and death. The arrival of these rains would mean life and hope for the Israelites.
Contrast the faithfulness of God with the unfaithfulness of the people of Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom and Judah, the Southern Kingdom. “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, (Or faithfulness or loyalty) and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Evidently, the people of both kingdoms have simply been playing religious games, going through meaningless rituals. God knows the hearts of these people and compares their faithlessness to clouds and dew that appear early in the morning and immediately disappear. God wants His people to be merciful, faithful, and loyal to Him; otherwise, the most elaborate offerings are worthless.
APPLICATION: One of the amazing things about the Book of Hosea is the wonderful gems of faith we find there. “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.” Who among us has not messed up? Who among us does not need forgiveness and restoration? God is prepared to heal and restore us. But we must pursue the knowledge of the Lord. We need to be merciful, faithful, and loyal to Him. The most acceptable offering to the Lord is the offering of our lives to Him. If we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us, “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.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that we cannot earn our way into heaven. Forgive our sins and restore and revive us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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