Hosea 5:15- 6:3

The end of the fifth chapter in the book of Hosea states, "I will go away and return to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek me." In the book of Hosea we find God rebuking Israel for their whoredom, their spiritual adultery. It is glorious to see the mercy of God and His patience with His people. He wasn't however patient forever. He sent the King of Assyria to judge the whore Israel and to "dash her to pieces." Yet she wasn't completely cut off-she never will be. God loves Israel. As we go on from chapter five and into chapter six we read a stunning three verses that deal with repentance and restoration.

Notice at the end of chapter five God said, "I will go away from them until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face... Following this statement we come into chapter six which says, "Come let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up after the third day, that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth."

We see in this beautiful passage the blessing of God and the repentant heart.
1. God does not dwell with sinners.
2. Acknowledge sin and guilt, turn to the Lord. "Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face..."
3. Call others to come to the LORD in repentance.
4. An understanding that the LORD is the judge. He is the one who "tears us apart, who wounds us."
5. An understanding that the LORD is the redeemer. If there is any hope of forgiveness it is in Him, through faith in His son. The book of Hosea was written before the incarnation of the Messiah. The people of Hosea's day were looking forward by faith (those who were the elect) and we know look back by faith in the Messiah and His work on our (those who are elect) behalf on the cross. "But He will heal us, He will bandage us..."
6. The repentance lead to life before Him or CORAM DEO. Living before the face of God.
7. This leads us to a desire for more of Him all of our days. A zeal to continually press on to know Him. "Let us press on to know the LORD."