Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
We shall know…..if we follow on to know.
Do you want to know the Lord, more?
Isaiah 54:13 “And all Thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of Thy children.”
Do you want to be taught of Him?
(God does not yield to experimentation….He does not say….”try Me, and see whether I am God.”
No, He states….”I am God,….believe Me.”
Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”
To know God, is to have a more personal relationship with Him.
Let me ask you…..do you talk with Him, everyday…..bringing both your sins for confession (1 John 1:9), and your deliverances and victories to Him, in praise?)
“His going forth”
This speaks of His Purpose…….which is ever going forward….
……..though we may not see it clearly……..yet,…
His going forth in His Word (Isaiah 55:11);…..His going forth by His Spirit (Romans 8:13-15);……His going forth in battle for us (Ephesians 6:10).
“And He comes unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains on the earth.”
Rain speaks of His temporal mercies…..for He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)
These latter and former rains were essential for a good harvest in Israel.
The latter rains in March-May, when the crop was coming to fruition….to give the best harvest.
The former rains in October-December, when the crops were first planted….to give them the best start.
And this was by the mercy of God.
Hosea was calling God’s people to know Him…..God was giving them a chance to rekindle the fire of zeal…but not in sacrifices…..but in fellowship and relationship.
Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”
The morning cloud and early dew promise much for the crops and vineyards…..they look real good…..but deliver little.
For as soon as the sun comes up…..they disappear…no rain then….the dew gone, and the plants drying out.
They gave no lasting benefit.
So were the changes of Ephraim (one name for Israel, the northern kingdom) and Judah.
They showed promise of repentance….they became very religious….but it was not a lasting change of the heart.
Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.”
The Lord sought to restore them….that is why Hosea, and other prophets were sent…..to speak His Words to them….if they will hear, and follow Him again. He sent judgements to show light on their sins.
“Then shall they know, if they follow on to know…”
The sacrifices were only as good as the hearts that brought them.”
Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
“I desired mercy”…..”mercy” here is a word which speaks of affection and loyalty under the covenant.
And this affection and love is for both God, and all the sons of the covenant.
This is what He wanted of them,…..to get their hearts right with Him…..and with their brothers.
“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.
For them to really know their God…..that is what He has always wanted….not just from Israel…..but down through the ages in His church.
For His people to know Him…..
……..and that can not be done without fellowship….and following after.
To worship Him in Spirit and in truth….this He wants from all His people….heart worship.
And worship is worthyship…..counting the Lord worthy of our all.
He seeks this from us, today.
And He is still calling,……all who will, to……
(Hosea 6:1-3):
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will lead us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”
(How often He had to stand by and let their enemies hurt them….to wake them up to their sin!
Isaiah 54:7-8 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies shall I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Lord thy Redeemer.”)
“After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”
(Some, (I do) see the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ here…and all that it gives us. Promised so many times to those who would know Him!)
“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain and former rain upon the earth.”
To follow on…..because He is going on…..will we go with Him?
As sure as the light in the sky tomorrow….His going forth for us, in His Purpose is prepared and ready.
And He shall…..He shall come unto us in mercy….if we follow on with Him……we will begin to have all that He has Purposed for us.
One day He will come to judge the earth….but today He still calls in mercy….
…..are we hearing Him?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 