Hosea 5-6:1-3

  The Lord brings a powerful rebuke against the priests, the king, and the people of Israel.  He calls them "revolters" who have "gone deep in depravity".  Their actions were so revolting to the Lord that He says, "Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God."  They do not know or acknowledge the Lord.  They have fallen so far that even if they were to seek Him.. "they will not find Him." (v6)

The Lord withdrew from Israel because of their sinfulness.  He was giving them over to the sin that would swallow them.  " I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me." 

This brings to my mind the first chapter of Romans.. where Paul talks about the wrath of God" revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.."  Paul says that even though there is evidence in all of nature that God is real.. that even though "they knew God".. they did not acknowledge Him or honor Him.  And, because of the impurity and lust and idolatry of mankind.. God "gave them over to degrading passions.. and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind. " ( v18, 21, 26, 28) 

I think of this passage often.. for we are seeing it happen right before our eyes.. as our nation has also revolted against the truth of God's Word and will not acknowledge Him.. and truly does not know Him. God will judge America just as He did Israel.. both in Hosea's day and in Paul's. 

But we are not without hope!

The first 3 verses of Hosea chapter 6 are a beautiful, humble response to God's rebuke.. "Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him. So, let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." 

How appropriate in this season.. tomorrow being Good Friday and Sunday the "third day".... to know and to acknowledge the Lord our God who will heal us.. who will raise us up.. who is willing to forgive, redeem, and restore us... as Paul wrote.. " But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." ( Romans 5:8)

O Come.. let us return to the Lord! 

Father in heaven, Holy and Gracious God who rules heaven and earth.. You have showed us lovingkindness and mercy far beyond anything we could ask. You have redeemed us by the blood of Your Beloved Son so that we could be saved from the wrath that we deserve. You have given us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah! Thank You! We praise and worship You with all our hearts. We love You, Lord.  May we grow ever deeper in that love and devotion to You as You fill us with Your Spirit and sanctify us through and through. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen