Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. Hosea 6:1
These may be taken either as the words of the prophet to the people, calling them to repentance, or as the words of the people to one another, encouraging each other to seek the Lord and to humble themselves before Him in the hope of finding mercy with Him. Israel was told to “return to the Lord” (Hos. 6:1). They were to go no more to the Assyrians or to King Jareb, but were commanded to return to the worship of the Lord and turn from idolatry. The first step to healing and restoration is always to return to the Lord. Many people want the benefits of healing and restoration but they never seriously want to come back to the Lord. Jesus says, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). The prophet Joel exhorts us in Joel 2:13, “So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” God is looking at our hearts. “Rending the heart” is that which God looks for and requires. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). This psalm of David was written when Nathan the prophet went to him and confronted him of his adultery with Bathsheba.
When David realized that he was wrong, he did not care if he would lose his kingship; nor was he concerned about his reputation or the opinions of his subjects. David immediately cried out, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam. 12:13). He was grieved that he had hurt God and that his relationship with Him was now jeopardized. Because of his sincerity, David was later healed and restored.
King Saul was not like David. When the prophet Samuel confronted him about his unlawful sacrifice and his disobedience in not thoroughly destroying the Amalekites, Saul tried to defend himself (1 Sam. 13:11-12; 15:20-21). As a result, Saul lost his kingdom. Stop defending and justifying yourself when you are being confronted by the truth. Let the severity of sin grieve our souls, so that it cuts us to the heart to think of how we have dishonored God. As we rend our hearts in repentance, God will rend the heavens and come down to us with mercy, healing and restoration.
These may be taken either as the words of the prophet to the people, calling them to repentance, or as the words of the people to one another, encouraging each other to seek the Lord and to humble themselves before Him in the hope of finding mercy with Him. Israel was told to “return to the Lord” (Hos. 6:1). They were to go no more to the Assyrians or to King Jareb, but were commanded to return to the worship of the Lord and turn from idolatry. The first step to healing and restoration is always to return to the Lord. Many people want the benefits of healing and restoration but they never seriously want to come back to the Lord. Jesus says, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). The prophet Joel exhorts us in Joel 2:13, “So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” God is looking at our hearts. “Rending the heart” is that which God looks for and requires. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). This psalm of David was written when Nathan the prophet went to him and confronted him of his adultery with Bathsheba.
When David realized that he was wrong, he did not care if he would lose his kingship; nor was he concerned about his reputation or the opinions of his subjects. David immediately cried out, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam. 12:13). He was grieved that he had hurt God and that his relationship with Him was now jeopardized. Because of his sincerity, David was later healed and restored.
King Saul was not like David. When the prophet Samuel confronted him about his unlawful sacrifice and his disobedience in not thoroughly destroying the Amalekites, Saul tried to defend himself (1 Sam. 13:11-12; 15:20-21). As a result, Saul lost his kingdom. Stop defending and justifying yourself when you are being confronted by the truth. Let the severity of sin grieve our souls, so that it cuts us to the heart to think of how we have dishonored God. As we rend our hearts in repentance, God will rend the heavens and come down to us with mercy, healing and restoration.
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