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318. Prophecy of the Resurrection

Hosea 6:1-3
Key Verse: "After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us that we may live in His presence."
Hosea 6:2

No matter how it appears to us, God is in control. Hosea was speaking to a people who had rejected the Lord. They had turned their backs on Him and had chased after other gods as a foolish woman chases after another man and rejects her own husband.

For their unfaithfulness, God would punish, but as sure as the sun rises, He would also restore. To turn their backs on the One true God was the height of foolishness. To crucify Him and reject Him and prefer a man made religion about Him was just as evil and foolish. After all He had done for them, after all the love He had shown, He had been rejected.

In love, however, He could not leave His people in that rejected place. It is His nature to extend the hand of fellowship and strive again to restore what He had intended. "Come, let us return to the Lord." (Hos. 6:1A) It is the only right thing to do. "He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds." (Hos 6:1B) There has been great suffering on this Sabbath. Jesus’ followers have felt very separated from God, without direction or hope, but restoration is coming. Then, "We will live in His presence." (Hos. 6:2B)

"Let's acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him." (Hos. 6:3A) It's like the praise of the Psalmist in Psalm 13 again. We must remember that God is good no matter how circumstances appear. We must acknowledge Him in all our ways." (Proverbs 3:5-6) "As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, (or snows), like the spring rains that water the ground." (Hos. 6:3B) God is as faithful as the sun rise no matter how it appears.

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:21-23) Just as the rainbow serves to remind us of God's faithfulness to His promise to Noah that He would never flood the earth again, let the sun rise remind you of God's faithfulness to us of His new creation and eternal presence. After all, sunrise was coming to a new and glorious day for those who had followed Jesus. There is a sun rise for us as well. It may be hidden by clouds for now, but the sun will rise, of that you can be sure. God is faithful to His own, of that, you can be even more sure.

Right now, you may be in a situation where you feel as though you are alone and that God is not with you. This is a horrible place to be. Satan loves nothing better than to convince us that we have been abandoned by God. Remember, Jesus hanging alone on the cross. He knows what you are feeling. Talk to Him and cry with Him if you must. Then, remember, the sun will rise, God is faithful and you will be restored in Him.


Hymn: "Restore Us O God"

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