Following many words about sin in Hosea 5, we have a call to
“return to the Lord.” The people hear God’s call, and they say, “Let’s
return to the Lord” (Hosea 6:1). This call to return to the Lord comes
to us with the promise of His healing - “He will heal us” (Hosea 6:1),
His revival - “He will revive us” (Hosea 6:2), and His life - “He will
raise us so that we may live in His presence” (Hosea 6:2). We hear the
bad news of our sin so that our hearts may be prepared by the Lord to
receive the Good News of His great salvation. Once we have returned to
the Lord, we are called to give ourselves to him in loyalty - “I want
your loyalty, not your sacrifices” (Hosea 6:8).
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be ...
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