TEXTS AND APPLICATION: Today’s reading begins the book of Hosea, a book that utilizes the relationship of Hosea and his wife, Gomer, to paint a picture of the relationship between God and His people. God’s people had, like Gomer, been unfaithful and adulterous. Their leaders led them into sin (Hos. 4:4-6). The people followed wooden idols and sacrificed with cult prostitutes (Hos. 4:12-14). They had so turned to wrong that they were enslaved in sin (Hos. 5:4). All the while, they still went through the motions of worshiping God (Hos. 5:6), but without seeking Him (Hos. 7:10).
Like Gomer, they were guilty. Still, though, God loved them and intended to keep His promise to Abraham (Hos. 1:10, 23). He would love them again. That love, though, would first bring judgment — but it would be judgment designed to produce repentance. These verses with parallel images of judgment and healing make that point clearly:
Hos. 6:1-3 Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence. Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
The God who tears us in judgment also heals us. He who wounds us in judgment also binds up our wounds. He who allows us to die in judgment also revives us. He keeps His covenant with us even when we fail dramatically on our end. God loves us so much that He carries out judgment on us to bring us to repentance.
PRAYER: Pray that while we may not like God’s judgment while we’re in it, we would still recognize that He judges us because He loves us. If you need to return to Him today, go ahead. He patiently waits for our return.
TOMORROW’S READING: Hosea 8-14