“What Repentance Looks Like”

Series: God Speaks

Text: Hosea 6:1-3; 2 Chron 7:13-14

Introduction: (What?)

In the last verse of chapter 5 God said, “I will depart and return to My place until they recognize their guilt and seek My face, they will search for Me in their distress.” This is an exhortation to the people of Israel and Judah to return to the LORD. If is somewhat like people in a church congregation realizing that they are far from the LORD and talking among themselves regarding what they should do to restore their relationship with Him. It is also Messianic in that it relates to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Examination: (Why?)

Come (v 1)

Hosea 6:1 “Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds.”

It seems that Israel got the message from the last verse of chapter 5. They recognized that God had withdrawn from them and that He was no longer protecting or providing for them. Often it takes going through a difficult time for someone to realize their need of God. A Church of Christ in the same community as my church when I was in college would carefully read the obituaries in the local paper. If it appeared that the family of the deceased did not have a church, and were in our community, they would immediately visit them. The premise was that during a time of trial or grief people are much more open to Christ.

The simple word “come” indicated a complete turn around (repentance). Instead of running away from God, they were moving toward Him. In Joel 2:12-14 the prophet told how this repentance was to take place. “Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God.”

Jeremiah mentioned the result of this repentance in Jer 50:4-5 “In those days and at that time— this is the Lord’s declaration— the Israelites and Judeans will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the Lord their God. They will ask about Zion, turning their faces to this road. They will come and join themselves to the Lord in a permanent covenant that will never be forgotten.”

The acknowledgement that “He has torn us” relates to what Hosea said in Hos 5:14 “For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. I will carry them off, and no one can rescue them.” We, like the Israelites, must recognize that nothing happens without the LORD’s consent or His instigation. It is kind of like the old saying, “you don’t know who you are messing with.” In Job 5:18 Eliphaz, Job’s friend said, “For he wounds but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.”

When Israel repented, they knew instinctively that God would heal them and bind up their wounds. When our daughters were young, if there was ever a need for a paddling, it was followed by a hug from the very one who had paddled them. Even as they were crying from the paddling, they would turn and raise their arms for the hug. When God disciplines us it is not punishment, but rather is intended to turn us back in His direction. In Heb 12:8 the writer noted “But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

What God will do (v 2)

Hos 6:2 “He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.” Although the discipline may seem to last a long time, it really doesn’t. This is not a reference to the burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is the assurance that when we repent God “will raise us up” quickly. King David, who knew a thing or two about discipline, wrote in Ps 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.”

The reality is that those being disciplined determine how long that discipline lasts. The more stubborn and resistant you are, the longer and stronger the discipline.

The reason for God “raising us up” is so that “we can live in His presence.” That reminds me of the ending of Ps 23:6 “Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.” David also wrote in Ps 27:4 “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.”

Dwelling in God’s presence is the fruit of repentance.

Our part and His part (v 3)

Hos 6:3 “Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.”

Back in Hos 4:1 we find that there was a lack of knowledge of God which led to His discipline on Israel. “Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land!”

Getting to know the LORD requires effort on our part. There are many people that I know ABOUT, but that I do not know intimately. The word translated as “know” is the same word used in Genesis regarding sexual intimacy. In the KJV we find “Adam KNEW his wife, and she bore him a son.”

(We get to know Him by spending quality intimate time with Him. We do that when we have a regular time to meet with Him in reading, studying meditating and obeying His Word. We also get to know Him through two-way prayer as we converse with Him. When we get to know Him this way then “His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.” There are two “rainy seasons” in Israel; one in the fall and another in the spring. It is the spring rains (latter rains) that insure that crops will grow.

In Deut 11:13-15 ““If you carefully obey my commands I am giving you today, to love the Lord your God and worship him with all your heart and all your soul, I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and fresh oil. I will provide grass in your fields for your livestock. You will eat and be satisfied.” From this we learn that God blesses even the crops when we are obedient to His commands and love Him with all our heart and soul.

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

Are you aware or have you ever been aware of God’s displeasure with you?

Do you sense that God is far away when you try pray or read His word?

Is spending time with God boring to you?

If you answer to any of these questions is “yes”, it means that you are in need of repentance and obedience to His Word. If you are a child of God, He will answer specifically when you ask about your sins. The words of David in Ps 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” are a good way to find out your sin(s). Once you know them and agree with God concerning them, your relationship with Him will be restored and spending time with Him will be a joy.