“Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but 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 in His sight.” (vv.1-2)
Here Hosea leads Israel in a humble prayer, with the right heart, in response to the chastening hand of God. Instead of arguing with God, or resenting His correction, Hosea turns to prayer.
This is a prayer that trusts the love of God, and sees His loving hand even in correction. Often, a rebellious child will complain that their parents do not love them. Of course, the parents do love the child, but in their rebellion and lack of submission, they can’t receive or respond to that love.
In verse two we read, “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up,” Hosea prayed this full of confidence in God’s love and power to restore. In the prayer, we see a shadowy prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection on the third day. The context supports this wonderfully; on the cross Jesus was torn and stricken for our sake, yet He was also gloriously raised up on the third day.
A beautiful “call to return” to the LORD, to walk in confidence and wait on Him, with the promise that He will come like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth (v.3). In Israel, the only way crops were watered was by rain. So the farmer waited for the rain with great anticipation.
When we anticipate and wait for God with this kind of earnest expectation, He answers and will come to us.
The Truth: “But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Here Hosea leads Israel in a humble prayer, with the right heart, in response to the chastening hand of God. Instead of arguing with God, or resenting His correction, Hosea turns to prayer.
This is a prayer that trusts the love of God, and sees His loving hand even in correction. Often, a rebellious child will complain that their parents do not love them. Of course, the parents do love the child, but in their rebellion and lack of submission, they can’t receive or respond to that love.
In verse two we read, “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up,” Hosea prayed this full of confidence in God’s love and power to restore. In the prayer, we see a shadowy prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection on the third day. The context supports this wonderfully; on the cross Jesus was torn and stricken for our sake, yet He was also gloriously raised up on the third day.
A beautiful “call to return” to the LORD, to walk in confidence and wait on Him, with the promise that He will come like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth (v.3). In Israel, the only way crops were watered was by rain. So the farmer waited for the rain with great anticipation.
When we anticipate and wait for God with this kind of earnest expectation, He answers and will come to us.
The Truth: “But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
