Thursday, December 3: Hosea 6:1-6
In some old Andy Griffiths, Andy would sometimes in exasperation say to Barney, "You beat everything, you know that?" Similarly, in old Hosea chapter 6, the Lord in exasperation says, "O Ephraim... O Judah... what shall I do with you?" Having pleaded through Hosea, "Come," He says in the same breath (well, kinda) , "I've torn you because you beat everything, you know that?"
I wonder if we in the States "beat everything," too, having been "torn" in our lifetimes with: -- yearly, massive, destructive hurricanes; yearly, massive, destructive fires; tornadoes, droughts, floods; a deadly virus outbreak; highway tragedies; gun tragedies; addictions; delusion; racism; war.
It isn't for me to state that these adversities have come from the hand of God, but divinely sourced or self-inflicted or both, they have torn us apart. What gives? In Matthew, the Lord Jesus offers a clue, revealing something about mankind... and Himself: --"Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice,'"-- and again "... if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice'." (9:13 and 12:7 NRSV) It is apparent then that the outward form must step aside and an inward merciful motive--and the making of it real--must stand preeminent.
As the sacrificed, resurrected, central figure of history, as the One who settled for all time the plea, "Come," the Lord offers the mercies of morning light and "spring rain," of healing and "binding up." These gentle gifts are not transactional in consequence of "burnt offerings" but are the natural liberalities transferred from within the knowledge of God. "Come... He has struck down... on the third day He will raise us up."(Hosea 6:1-2 NRSV) A prophet's mystery revealed by an apostle's insight: All in Adam, now all in the Last Adam, displayed at the Nativity, consummated at the Empty Tomb. Marvelous!
Larry Inman