Thoughts on Hosea 5
What is true repentance?
“With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.”
Hosea 5:6 ESV
The previous verses gives clues. “Their deeds do not permit them”, “The spirit of whoredom”, “The pride of Israel”..
There have been times when I try to return to the Lord, but I know in my heart that I was doing so half-heartedly. My actions do not show repentance. My heart is divided, distracted. I assume everything is alright.
Surely enough, I would fail in finding God. And the consequences of my sin – my not being under God’s good and perfect will – takes its toll on me and on the people I love.
“Blow the horn”, “Sound the alarm”, Hosea says. Trouble has come – as it comes to every man – and neither my strength, nor the strength of other people, nor the objects of my distraction, are able to save me.
“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.”
Hosea 5:15 ESV
When my son does something wrong, I find myself acting the same way. The truth is, in my heart I would pardon the wrong almost immediately after it was done. But, for his sake, I would need him to acknowledge the wrong, to humble himself and come to me.
This part almost always takes so much longer than it needs to be. Just as it is for me when I know I have wronged God.
Let go of your pride, humble yourself. And don’t let guilt and embarrassment hinder you from returning to God. He is ready to welcome you with open arms. Go to God agad.