"The children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD"
Text: Hosea 3:5
RETURNING TO THE LORD GOD
Israel had to be cleansed from all that she had known. That would include her political and religious activities. The entire past had to be gotten rid of lock, stock and barrel! Only then would Israel be ready to return to the LORD and establish a new and correct relationship!
“Afterward the children of Israel shall return
and seek the LORD their God and David their king.
They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.”
Hosea 3:5
1. “Afterward”
a) The cleansing must take place.
b) This cleansing work may take “many days” (meaning, “years”).
c) The entire nation’s infrastructure must be cleaned out.
i) No royal family.
ii) No corrupt priestly system.
iii) No idolatrous worship in any form.
2. “The children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God”
a) The returning to the Lord must include:
i) The forsaking of idolatrous worship.
ii) The repentance from all sinful ways.
iii) The recognition of the LORD for who He is and what He stands for.
b) The seeking of the LORD must include:
i) Seeking God in prayer.
ii) Seeking God in worship.
iii) Seeking God in the reading of His word.
iv) Seeking God with all the heart, all the mind and all the soul.
3. “And David their king”
a) This is a Messianic reference.
b) It is a reference to the time when the Messiah would have revealed Himself as their rightful King.
4. “They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days”
a) The fear of the LORD will be the hallmark of their relationship with Him.
b) The goodness of the LORD would be shown to all who return to the LORD.
c) But His goodness should not be taken for granted but should cause the children of Israel to fear Him!