Hosea 5:15-6:3

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up.” vs. 1 

Hosea was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century B.C.E. It was a time of turmoil and intrigue, with Israel having allied itself with Syria against Judah. While both Israel and Judah claimed a connection to the Lord, neither seems to have taken that relationship seriously. Both countries dabbled in the worship of Baal, one of the favorite idols of that region.

At this point Israel, having experienced defeat in battle, expresses an interest in returning to the Lord, presumably because the Lord would bring healing and reconciliation. For Hosea this was a problem because the people had never expressed any remorse or guilt for their actions.They didn’t seem to realize that the Lord required repentance before there could be healing.

It’s not uncommon for a nation to turn to God when times are difficult. We see this in our own country as our foundations seem to be cracking and on the verge of collapse. We would like very much for God to make us whole, but we’re not as willing to acknowledge those areas in which we’ve gone astray. Even though we will confess that there is a need for repentance, we’re more likely to think that it’s others who need to do the changing. And if Hosea is right, without honest confession, there is little likelihood of healing!

Thought for the Day: How can our country be healed?