Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up. Come, 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. These words are to be regarded as an address by the prophet, in the Name of the Lord, to those who had been smitten or sent into exile. They mean: let us go no more to the Assyrians nor to any other incapable deliverer, but "let us return unto the Lord;" put away all confidence in an arm of flesh, renounce all idolatries. Take the words as indicating man's highest social action. Man, as a member of society, has much to do with his fellow-men; he should contribute to the advancement of general knowledge, to the progress of political purity and freedom, and to the augmentation of the general health and comfort of the kingdom. But there is a higher work than this for him in society; it is that of stimulating the community to which he belongs to "return unto the Lord," to bring them into fellowship with the infinite Father. "Come, and let us return unto the Lord." Taking the words in this application, what do they imply? I. THAT SOCIETY IS AWAY FROM GOD. Not locally, of course - for the great Spirit is with all and in all - but morally. Society is away from him in its thoughts: it practically ignores his existence and his claims. Away from him in its sympathies: its heart is on those things that are repugnant to his holy nature. Away from him in its pursuits: its pursuits are those of selfish and carnal gratifications and aggrandizements. Far gone, in truth, is society from its true Center - God. It is like the prodigal, in a "far country." II. THAT ESTRANGEMENT FROM GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL ITS TRIALS. Because the prodigal left his father's home he got reduced to the utmost infamy and wretchedness. Moral separation from God is ruin. Cut the branch from the root and it withers; the river from its source, and its dries up; the planet from the sun, and it rushes into ruin. Society has left God - its Root, Source, Center - hence the terrible evil with which he by his government "hath torn" it. Nothing will remove the evils under which society is groaning but a return unto God. Legislation, commerce, science, literature, art, none of these will help it much so long as it continues away from him. III. THAT RETURN TO HIM IS A POSSIBLE WORK. Were it not so there would be no meaning in the language, "Come, and let us return unto the Lord." With some estranged spirits in the universe a return may be impossible forever; not so with human spirits on this earth. There is a way, a true and living way, by which all may return - return by repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." CONCLUSION. Who are the greatest social benefactors? Those who are the most successful in exciting and stimulating their fellow-men to come back to God, to return home to the great Father of love who awaits their return. He says, "Come now, and let us reason together," etc. To bring society hack to God is pre-eminently the work of the gospel minister; to this he consecrates his power, his time, his all. - D.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Come, 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. |
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