Proper 5: Old Testament, Hosea 5:15-6:6                                 

Hosea 5:15-6:6

If you don’t see the Lord Jesus when you read your Old Testament you’re simply missing the point. Now granted, the Old Testament is a thick collection. And there are things contained therein beside Jesus. But He is the point of it. Listen to this promise:

“Come, let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up,

that we may live in His sight.”

Hosea 6:1-2

Did you see the promise? Did you observe the Who? God does the reviving and the One who raises us does so on what day? The third day? Granted, the promise is that God’s people will be raised on the third day. But third day is simply shorthand for “there is a third day coming in the future that will be a ‘life from the dead day.’ Watch for it.” And the result of that life from the dead deal is that the One who conquers and owns that day will be the agent of the raising of His people on their own “third day.” Jesus lives and works in Hosea 6. Hosea is about godliness marrying the world. About what is clean offering itself for the benefit of one who cannot wash him/herself. And then living with that one in a fruitful covenant. It is a gospel promise book.

God does the calling, the cleaning, the keeping and final welcoming. Our response is to receive all the gifts God gives. When God bellows in the Law to do this or that or to refrain, you and I don’t respond with, “Yes, I believe.” Law is not to be believed, but rather obeyed. And I fail every single time. But the full-fledged promise of grace giving me hope to rise from the dead is not something to be obeyed, but believed. By faith. Faith which takes hold, and by the very grace that gives it (see Romans 10:17), keeps holding on. Come along. Let’s “faith” His promises together.