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) Hosea gives a beautiful example of the cry of a repentant heart. Though we find ourselves struggling under God's hand of discipline, we have hope that when we return to him, he will heal and restore us so we may live in his presence. Our restoration will be like Jesus' own resurrection on the third day. After repentance, we must keep pressing on to acknowledge God from our hearts. Then we can experience the joy of his presence, like spring rains that water the earth. 2. "Your love is like the morning mist" (4-11) Hosea expresses the agony of God's heart for his unfaithful people. They claimed to love God, but they were quick to change their affections for the sake of small benefits. How can God help such people? God teaches that his true desire is not for ritual ceremonies but for his people to show mercy to the needy, and not for burnt offerings but heart acknowledgment of God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your open arms to restore and heal repentant sinners. May my love for you become steadfast like your love for me.

One Word: Press on to acknowledge God