August 11, 2026 - Hosea 4-7

Wow, Hosea had harsh words for Israel.  “The LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.  There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed” (4:1-2) & “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore” (4:12) & “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to the great king.  But he is not able to cure you or heal your wound” (5:13).  A summary:  The people have sinned greatly and are suffering because of their sin.  They look for help in all the wrong places (“a piece of wood,” that is, their idols; Assyria) and are sure to be disappointed.

Whether with sincerity or not, the people declare the solution to their situation.  Rather than continuing in sin and idolatry, someone cries:  “Come, let us return to the LORD . . . Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth” (6:1-3).  That’s the answer, isn’t it!  Having sinned and facing the discipline of the Lord, in repentance turn back to him.  He delights in forgiving those who seek him!

Return, O wanderer, return,

And seek thy Father’s face;

Those new desires which in thee burn

Were kindled by his grace.

Return, O wanderer, return,

He hears thy humble sigh;

He sees thy softened spirit mourn

When no one else is nigh.

Return, O wanderer, return,

Thy Saviour bids thee live;

Come to his cross, and grateful learn

How freely he’ll forgive.   -- William Bengo Collyer (1812)