Tuesday, December 10 – Hosea 5, 6

1. How can we respond to God’s call to return to Him in times of spiritual crisis?

2. Why are loyalty and knowledge of God crucial in our life of faith?

3. What promises of restoration and hope can we find in our relationship with God, even after we have failed?

Commentary and Reflection:

Hosea 5 and 6 call for reflection on the relationship between God and His people, Israel. Through the prophet’s voice, God expresses His discontent over the unfaithfulness and rebellion of His people, who, despite His warnings, continue in their sinful ways. This passage reflects the anguish of a God who longs to restore His people but must confront them with His judgment’s truth.

Hosea 6:1-3 invites us to return to the Lord, to acknowledge our transgressions, and to seek His forgiveness. This call is a reminder that there is always an opportunity for reconciliation. The invitation to “return” implies a movement back to God, a recognition of our need for His grace and mercy. Just as David clung to the Word of God, we, too, are called to hold on to the promise of restoration.

Hosea 6:2 speaks of the hope of resurrection and restoration. After facing judgment, people can expect a new beginning. This reminds us that even though we face the consequences of our actions, there is always hope for redemption. Just as David sought God’s mercy despite his mistakes, we, too, can trust in the grace offered to us.

Hosea 6:3 mentions the Lord’s blessing on His people in the form of the early and latter rain. He is there at the beginning and the end. We need His blessing and provision in every stage of the harvest. The imagery of the early and later rain is also used to represent the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary states: “The early rain, from the last of October to the first part of December (see on Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23), following the dry season, allows the sowing of the seed in the autumn (the beginning of the Jewish civil and agricultural year). The latter rain in March and April, preceding and promoting the harvest, closes the winter rainy season, which peaks in January (see Vol. II, pp. 109, 110). In such expressive figurative language did Hosea assure his people of the abundant blessings of God that would revive and nourish their spiritual life.” – SDA Bible Commentary, Hosea 6:3

In Hosea 6:6, God declares that He prefers loyalty and knowledge of Him over ritual sacrifices. This resonates with David’s desire to be a man after God’s heart, where obedience and a personal relationship are essential. We often fall into the trap of performing external religious acts without a genuine heart. God calls us to know Him and love His law as a reflection of our relationship.

Matthew records that Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 twice: once in Matthew 9:13, when the Pharisees accused Him of eating with tax collectors and sinners, and again in Matthew 12:7 when the Pharisees accused His disciples of breaking the Sabbath by plucking grain to eat. In both cases, the context involved people pointing out others’ faults while justifying themselves.

In summary, Hosea 5 and 6 invite us to reflect on our relationship with God. They challenge us to be sincere in our pursuit of Him and recognize that our actions must align with a heart that longs to know and serve Him. Like David, we must make God’s Word our guide and refuge, trusting that His love and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.

My prayer today is: Lord, help me return to You with a sincere heart. Teach me Your ways and live faithfully to Your Word. May my life reflect Your love and grace. Amen.