Hosea 5:15 When Affliction Spurs Devotion

Hosea 5:15 (KJV)  I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. 

God is retiring to his place a picture of God withdrawing His saving help for His people. What was the reason for His withdrawal? The people of God have transgressed and have refused to acknowledge their sins before Him.

God sent affliction their way so that they will be awakened in their pain to repentance!

When Jerusalem was destroyed and the people of Judah were carried to Babylon, they framed their lamentations by the rivers of Babylon.

Psalm 137:1-4 (KJV)  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? 

Israel will learn a deep lesson in the 70 years of captivity never to meddle with idolatry again.

Indeed, in affliction, God catches our attention. We bypass Him in the times of our prosperity. God sent leanness to our souls that we may be drawn back to Him to acknowledge our offence.

Have we offended Him? Is He saying to you “I will go and return to my place” till you would acknowledge your offence.

Let us acknowledge our offences against God and His Word that He may restore us. Amen.