the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Hosea 6:1-11
Hosea has just explained what God is waiting for before healing Israel: ". . . till they acknowledge their offence" (Hosea 5:15). It is touching to see the prophet, just afterwards, take the people by the hand as it were and say to them, "Come, and let us return unto the LORD . . . He who has smitten us will bind up our wounds." A shepherd once explained how he had to break the leg of a restless sheep, so as to make it depend on him and so by his care attach it to himself. V. 4 again describes the moral condition of the people . . . and, alas, that of many Christians. How many who have once experienced a conversion full of promise could now have this rebuke addressed to them, ". . . your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away" (v. 4; Revelation 2:4). Oh, that despite those contacts with the world which sap our strength, the Lord might maintain in our hearts our first love for Himself! In vain do Ephraim and Judah bring flocks and herds for sacrifice (Hosea 5:6). The LORD answers them, "I desired mercy, and not sacrifice" (v. 6, quoted by the Lord on two occasions when addressing the Pharisees: Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7). Love for Christ and love for our neighbour which flows from it is the only motive God recognises for whatever service we may undertake (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
