Readings for today: Hosea 6-9
I often get asked what it means to truly repent. Is it feeling bad about what you’ve done? Is it feeling guilty for being caught? Does it involve shame for being exposed? How do we repent? Is saying sorry enough? Does it involve asking for forgiveness? What about reconciliation? These are all really good questions and thankfully the Bible has answers. Consider Hosea 6:1-6…
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and 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 before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:1-6)
Repentance begins with humility. An honest, transparent acknowledgment of what we have done. No excuses. No blame-shifting. Just a confession that God is right and we are wrong. God is righteous in His judgment and we earned the punishment we received. God has torn us. God has struck us down. Our love was transient. It faded like a morning cloud or like the dew on the grass. God was faithful. He sent us prophets. He warned us by their words. But we did not listen. We refused to change our ways. Therefore His judgment fell on us and we are broken.
Repentance involves change. “Let us return to the Lord…” There phrase is pregnant with meaning. It signals a shift in attitude and action. A 180 degree turn on the path we were going down. A radical change in direction. Whereas we once were headed down the road to destruction, we are now traveling the narrow way that leads to life. What does this look like in real life? It looks like steadfast, faithful, sacrificial, authentic love instead of empty, nominal, “just going through the motions” worship. It involves a relentless pursuit of God and a longing for a deeper relationship with Him over simply satisfying the letter of the Law.
Repentance clings to hope. God is faithful. If we seek Him with all our heart, He promises to heal. He promises to bind up our wounds. He promises to revive us and raise us up. We can count on Him because we know His “going out is as sure as the dawn.” His love as dependable as the spring showers that water the earth. There will come a day when God will restore the fortunes of His people.
What was true for Hosea and his family and the people of Israel remains true for us today. If we truly repent of our sin and come humbly before our God, He will restore our fortunes as well.
Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 10-14