Lent — Forty Days in the Wilderness · Day 3
Hosea 6:1-6 — a devotion
Hosea 6
- 1오라 우리가 여호와께로 돌아가자 여호와께서 우리를 찢으셨으나 도로 낫게 하실 것이요 우리를 치셨으나 싸매어 주실 것임이라Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.“Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.
- 2여호와께서 이틀 후에 우리를 살리시며 제삼일에 우리를 일으키시리니 우리가 그 앞에서 살리라After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.
- 3그러므로 우리가 여호와를 알자 힘써 여호와를 알자 그의 나오심은 새벽 빛 같이 일정하니 비와 같이, 땅을 적시는 늦은 비와 같이 우리에게 임하시리라 하리라Then 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.Let’s acknowledge the LORD. Let’s press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
- 4에브라임아 내가 네게 어떻게 하랴 유다야 내가 네게 어떻게 하랴 너희의 인애가 아침 구름이나 쉬 없어지는 이슬 같도다O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.“Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.
- 5그러므로 내가 선지자들로 저희를 치고 내 입의 말로 저희를 죽였노니 내 심판은 발하는 빛과 같으니라Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.
- 6나는 인애를 원하고 제사를 원치 아니하며 번제보다 하나님을 아는 것을 원하노라For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
Hosea was a prophet who was active in the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. At that time Israel had fallen into spiritual corruption amid the economic prosperity of the reign of Jeroboam II, and Baal worship and idolatry were widespread. At God's command Hosea married Gomer, a woman of harlotry, and this marriage itself was a prophetic act symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness. Chapter 6 sits in the middle of the book, and after the declarations of judgment in the preceding chapters 4-5, it contains the people's superficial repentance and God's response to it. This passage holds a core message of the Old Testament — so much so that Jesus Himself quoted it.
Reflection questions: 1. Is there a part of your life of faith that you keep repeating as a formality but into which your heart is not poured? 2. What could the word that God desires mercy rather than sacrifice mean for your everyday life today? 3. What small practice could you begin toward a steady faith that does not vanish like the morning dew?
Today's reflection
This passage divides into two parts. In verses 1-3 the people sing a song of repentance, saying, "Let us return to the LORD," but in verses 4-6 God laments that their love vanishes as easily as the morning dew. The word hesed is especially important here; it means unchanging love and faithfulness. God says that He desires from Israel hesed rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
This reveals the difference between formal religious acts and a genuine relationship. Israel's repentance sounds sincere, but God knew it was an emotional reaction that would soon fade. What God truly desires is not ritual but an unchanging relationship of love.
Meditating on this word during Lent leads us to examine ourselves. We can consider whether our faith perhaps burns hot only in emotional moments and then evaporates like dew once we return to ordinary life.
God does not demand a perfect faith; He wants us to keep the relationship going faithfully with a sincere heart. Today, why not pause for a moment and quietly look back on the state of your relationship with God?
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