A Humble Return
2/10/26 Bible Thought (Hosea 5)
Main Idea: Repentance is the antithesis of pride.
A Look at the Text:
In yesterday’s chapter, we saw how the priests of Hosea’s day failed God, and the people fell into sin as a result. As we turn the page to chapter 5, we see the coming consequences of this, as both the priests and leaders of Israel caused the people to stumble through their idolatry.
With this in mind, God’s desire was for them to “acknowledge their guilt, and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me” (Hos. 5:15).
God wanted them—at the heart level. He wanted them to want Him for who He was, not just for what He could do for them. Truly, worship must be an act of devotion, not simply targeted manipulation.
From an idolatrous people, God wasn’t interested in their flocks and herds (Hos. 5:6) until He first had their hearts. He wasn’t willing to share them with other lovers. The worship of idols would have to cease. They couldn’t claim to be sorry while still pursuing the same patterns of sin. Until they were truly sorry, they needn’t waste their time with surface-level religion.
If they were to change it would have to be at the heart. It would have to be genuine. It would require an act of humble repentance from the ones who were presently walking in pride (see Hos. 5:5a). It was an act of arrogance to present an offering to the God whom they had rejected as if everything was okay.
Bringing it Home:
Repentance is a humbling thing. It acknowledges that we have erred. In repentance, we come to terms with God regarding our sin. We see our sin for what it is, and we turn from it. To continue in rebellion before God knowingly is an act of pride. It spits in the face of God, saying, “I will do things my way, no matter what you say or think.”
On the contrary, true repentance humbly prays, “God, be merciful to me; a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).
There is a blessed hope under the new covenant that our sins have already been paid for. We simply must replace denial of sin with confession of sin (see 1 Jn. 1:8-10). When we do, we have the assurance of forgiveness and cleansing. Why? Because Jesus Christ has already suffered the full consequences of our sin at Calvary.
We merely have to humble ourselves, seeing our sin for what it is, and genuinely turn from it at the heart level. For those who earnestly seek Him, He will be found. He’s right where we left Him, will we return?
Challenge:
When my sin is brought into the light, what is my default response: running to God or away from Him?
Let us strive to always bring our sins to the light, knowing that this brings freedom, forgiveness, and cleansing.
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