Hosea 6:1-11: a reflection

1“Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. 2After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. 3Let’s acknowledge the LORD. Let’s press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.” 4“Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. 5Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. 6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me there. 8Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 9As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes. 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled. 11“Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.

This passage opens with a beautiful call to return to God and to pursue the knowledge of him. Come, let us return to the LORD, it says; and then: Let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth. There is a call here to press on, to pursue the knowledge of God earnestly; and a promise that God will surely come to those who seek him, as reliably as the sunrise, as refreshingly as the rain.

Notice both the call and the promise. The call is to press on to know the LORD, to pursue the knowledge of God not casually but earnestly, as something to be sought and grown in. And the promise is that God will surely come to those who seek him: as surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear; he will come like the rain. Those who press on to know God are not seeking in vain; God will surely come to them, reliably and refreshingly, as the dawn and the rain come.

That call and promise are for us. We are called to press on to know God, to pursue the knowledge of him earnestly, not resting in a shallow or casual acquaintance, but growing in the knowledge of him. And we are promised that God will surely come to those who seek him, reliably as the sunrise, refreshingly as the rain. Do not be content with a shallow or casual knowledge of God; press on to know him, pursuing the knowledge of God as something to be sought and grown in. And take the promise: God will surely come to those who press on to know him, as surely as the sun rises. Press on to know the LORD, seeking him earnestly; and trust the promise that he will come to you, as reliably as the dawn and as refreshingly as the rain, meeting those who seek him. Do not settle for a shallow knowledge of God; press on to know him, and he will surely come to you.

Lord, this passage opens with a beautiful call and promise: come, let us return to the LORD; let us press on to know the LORD; as surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth. Show me both. The call is to press on to know you, to pursue the knowledge of you not casually but earnestly, as something to be sought and grown in. And the promise is that you will surely come to those who seek you: as surely as the sun rises, you will appear; you will come like the rain. Those who press on to know you are not seeking in vain. Let that call and promise be for me. Help me press on to know you, to pursue the knowledge of you earnestly, not resting in a shallow or casual acquaintance, but growing in the knowledge of you. And help me take the promise: you will surely come to those who seek you, reliably as the sunrise, refreshingly as the rain. Keep me from being content with a shallow or casual knowledge of you; help me press on to know you, pursuing the knowledge of you as something to be sought and grown in. Help me press on to know you, Lord, seeking you earnestly, and trusting that you will come to me, as surely as the dawn and as refreshingly as the rain. Come to me as I seek you.