COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD

Passage: Hosea 6:1-11

Key verse: 3

NIV

Israel Unrepentant

6 “Come, let us return(A) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(B)
    but he will heal us;(C)
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.(D)
2 After two days he will revive us;(E)
    on the third day(F) he will restore(G) us,
    that we may live in his presence.
3 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,(H)
    like the spring rains that water the earth.(I)”

4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?(J)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.(K)
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth(L)—
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](M)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(N)
    and acknowledgment(O) of God rather than burnt offerings.(P)
7 As at Adam,[b] they have broken the covenant;(Q)
    they were unfaithful(R) to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,(S)
    stained with footprints of blood.
9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(T)
    so do bands of priests;
they murder(U) on the road to Shechem,
    carrying out their wicked schemes.(V)
10 I have seen a horrible(W) thing in Israel:
    There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
    Israel is defiled.(X)

11 “Also for you, Judah,
    a harvest(Y) is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes(Z) of my people,

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Footnotes
  1. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  2. Hosea 6:7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beings
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

6 “Come, let us (A)return to the Lord;
    for (B)he has torn us, that he may heal us;
    he has struck us down, and (C)he will bind us up.
2 After two days (D)he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.
3 (E)Let us know; (F)let us press on to know the Lord;
    (G)his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us (H)as the showers,
    (I)as the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 What shall I do with you, (J)O (K)Ephraim?
    What shall I do with you, O (L)Judah?
Your love is (M)like a morning cloud,
    (N)like the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
    I have slain them (O)by the words of my mouth,
    and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6 For (P)I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice,
    (Q)the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 But (R)like Adam they (S)transgressed the covenant;
    (T)there they dealt faithlessly with me.
8 (U)Gilead is a city of evildoers,
    (V)tracked with blood.
9 As robbers (W)lie in wait for a man,
    so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to (X)Shechem;
    they commit villainy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
    (Y)Ephraim's whoredom is there; (Z)Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, O (AA)Judah, (AB)a harvest is appointed.

When (AC)I restore the fortunes of my people,

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Footnotes
  1. Hosea 6:6 Septuagint mercy
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. He has injured, but he will heal (1-3)

We can trust God's love. Sometimes he wounds his people so that he can really heal them. We must not give up when he punishes, for that is the very time to press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear, and we will live in the warmth of his presence.

2. Your love is like the morning mist (4-11)

Israel, both north and south, claimed to love God. But they were quick to change their affections for the sake of small benefits. How can God help such people? He sent Bible teachers to them, to teach them that God wants mercy, not superficial religious ceremonies. He wants righteousness, not violence. His word is like a sharp sword. It pierces the heart. He wants his people to acknowledge him as God and keep his covenant.

Prayer: Lord, your love for me is steadfast and sure; my love is like the morning mist. I come to you today as I am. Heal me and put your faithful love in my heart.

One Word: Press on to acknowledge God (3)