3rd Days Are the Best Days

Good Things Are Coming!

It is easy to become overwhelmed with negativity. Hurt and disappointments are easy to remember. I think that is why we need to make a point to celebrate good things together. Every time that I officiate a wedding, I suggest that the couple and those present take time to celebrate. We should make a point of celebrating even the ordinary things. Life has enough troubles.

God is faithful to bring us through our troubles. Romans 8:28 is still true:

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

That reminds us about the “things”. We can also be encouraged that God provides and has already provided for the “faithful believers”. Rejoice!

3rd Days Are Coming

I would like to add another thought to our series on Freedom in His Presence. We will begin in the book of Hosea, a minor prophet from the Old Testament. But first I think it is good for us from time to time to remember that the Word of God is inspired. The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. They are perfect in their original manuscripts.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

This is a comfort to us because as we apply the Word of God to our lives we find inspiration, instruction, and guidance. We can rely on the Word of God.

Let’s dive into the inspired Word for today:

Hosea 6:1–3 NIV

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

I hadn’t intended to continue on the theme of the presence of God, but it is right in the middle of the text that is on my heart, so I believe the Holy Spirit wants to show us something more. As Christians we celebrate the notion of spiritual renewal and resurrection, but do we take time to consider what it takes for these things to take place in our lives?

Hosea would have seen the end of the nation of Israel. Their unfaithfulness to God would lead to a national captivity for at least 70 years. Hosea refers to this as being “torn to pieces” and being “injured”. But they wouldn’t be left alone. There would be revival and ultimately restoration on the “3rd day”. What follows is healing, revival, restoration, and life in the presence of God.

The most famous reference to the 3rd day is the resurrection of Jesus Christ but did you realize that throughout the Bible the reference to the 3rd day occurs over and over again. In fact, it occurs 48 times in some very significant ways. Each time there is some type of hardship but that hardship will be overcome.

Let’s do a little Bible study to see what timeless truth we can glean from some of these occurrences.

3rd Day Coincidences or Timeless Treasures?

The Prophetic Promise of Hosea

Verse 2 is the only specific reference in the OT to being raised up on the third day. Clearly this is not primarily a prophecy of an individual, the Messiah, but a metaphor of the coming to health of the nation. Nevertheless, there is a real similarity between the two situations: God works a totally impossible healing. What was done metaphorically for the nation of Israel, God’s son (cf. 11:1), was done literally for Jesus Christ, God’s Son. [1]

Hosea 11:1 NIV

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

It doesn’t take much to see the how this passage not only refers to the nation of Israel but to the person of Jesus Christ. From brokenness to resurrection, that is what God is able to do for each of us.

The third day represents God’s restorative power after a time of suffering or waiting.

The Deliverance of Isaac

In Genesis 22 we find an odd story about Abraham and his son Isaac. Briefly, Abraham’s wife was unable to conceive until she miraculously conceived (think Mary) and gave birth to Isaac, the heir to the promise of Abraham to become a vast nation favored by God. God speaks to Abraham and tell him that he is to sacrifice his son, so he sets off with his donkeys loaded up and his son by his side.

Genesis 22:4–5 NIV

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

So, Abraham with the knife and Isaac with the wood on his back head up the mountain. Isaac is prepared as a sacrifice and as Abraham raises his hand with the knife, an angel prevents him and provides a ram. Abraham wasn’t faking it. His intention was to be obedient. The book of Hebrews (11:19) tells us that Abraham “reasoned” that God could have raised Isaac from the dead.

It is easy to see the parallels to the life of Jesus and His sacrificial death.

The third day represents our deliverance from death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Fall of Dagon

Let’s look at another 3rd day. In this scenario, the high priest Eli and his two sons are dead. The nation of Israel is spiritually listless. The ark of the covenant has been carried off by the Philistines as plunder. The Philistines thought their gods had defeated the God of Israel. So, the Philistines bring the Ark to Ashdod.

1 Samuel 5:1–4 NIV

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.

Day 1 – the Ark moves to Ashdod. Day 2 – Dagon has fallen. Day 3 – Dagon is broken before the ark of the Lord! This ought to get us excited!

Do you remember the lyrics to Kari Jobe’s song, “Forever”?

The moon and stars they wept The morning sun was dead The Savior of the world was fallen His body on the cross His blood poured out for us The weight of every curse upon Him

One final breath He gave As Heaven looked away The Son of God was laid in darkness A battle in the grave The war on death was waged

The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake The stone was rolled away His perfect love could not be overcome Now death where is your sting

Our resurrected King Has rendered you defeated

I don’t understand people who discount the Old Testament! I see Jesus Christ and the promises of God all the way from Genesis to Malachi. We could apply this occurrence to a number of timeless truths provided by Jesus but let’s apply this simple statement.

The third day represents our deliverance from the captivity of idolatry.

Revelation at Mt Sinai

Now let’s travel back to the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. They are now standing at the base of Mt. Sinai as God begins to establish His promise with the descendants of Abraham.

Exodus 19:10–11 NIV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Again, we see something special about the 3rdday. Could you imagine this announcement, “…be ready by the 3rdday…[you’re about to see God]?” The third day is a time of divine revelation and covenant. In addition, I think there is something in the idea that the Isrealites are in transition from identity as slave to having a divine identity.

The third day represents a day of revelation to God’s people.

Living a 3rd Day Lifestyle

We have seen that in this small sample of the 48 references in the Bible to the 3rd day we find:

· Revelation

· Delivery from captivity of idolatry

· Deliverance from death

· Deliverance from suffering or waiting

Easter presents the greatest spiritual dilemma. Do I believe Jesus rose from the dead? The significance of the 3rd day is not that it is some formula or natural cycle. It is a gift to the faith-filled believer. We CAN know God. We CAN be delivered from the chains of idolatry. We CAN be delivered from eternal death due to sin. We CAN be delivered from suffering.

The 2 thieves at the Cross demonstrate that every man has an option – to believe in Jesus and experience 3rd days or curse and mock Jesus and spend an eternity in hell. What a gulf between the options.

Let’s circle back to our beginning…

Hosea 6:1–3 NIV

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

You may be broken, heart sick, injured…but Jesus can revive you…restore you and bring you into His presence. The 3rd day is your day…my day…if we just believe.

[1]G. Michael Butterworth, “Hosea,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 772.