This morning we continue in our study through the book of Hosea as we consider Hosea 5:1-15. In the text we see that God withdraws from his people who are proud and unfaithful so that in their distress they would acknowledge their guilt and earnestly seek Him. God calls the people to pay attention and describes what the people have done that is bringing about the promised judgement. Next, God describes what will happen. The people of Israel shall become a desolation. Finally, we see how the people respond. Rather than turning to the Lord, they look for help from Assyria, yet God’s intention is that they would acknowledge their guilt and return to Him.

God did withdraw from His people. They were exiled, punished, and humbled. But God did not stay distant forever. He didn’t return to His place and simply stay there. When the promised time had come, when the time was fulfilled, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. In a surprising act of God’s grace, the ultimate display of His faithful love, God took the guilt and the sin of His own people upon Himself. On the cross, Jesus was punished. He was carried off and killed. He was crushed in judgement. On the cross Jesus was torn so that you could be healed. He was forsaken so that you could be welcomed in. May acknowledging our guilt cause us all the more to cherish God’s kindness and grace towards us.