Prepare: Psalm 119:29-32

Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!

Read:

Hosea 4:1-6:11

Think:

“This section is a catalog of Israel’s sins, interspersed with the reminder of God’s faithfulness and future redemption for Israel (5:15—6:3). For Hosea, Israel’s sin consisted primarily in their looking to other nations for help rather than seeking help from the Lord.” (Sailhamer) Could not 4:1b-3 be a description of our own nation today? Sexual infidelity is a picture of the spiritual infidelity of Israel: whoredom (playing the whore) = idolatry (turning to a block of wood for help instead of God). Yet hope (6:1-3)!

Pray:

This is a good day to pray for our nation. Confess the sins of our land. Don’t be veiled: in your prayer, tell it like it is. Confess also our national idolatry. Ask God to move upon us by his Spirit. Pray for churches where the Scriptures are preached plainly and faithfully. Ask God to begin with you: “Renew my heart for you, O God!”

Sing:

As you pray the things mentioned above, take some time to reflect upon what it means to be humble before God and seek his face with the song Give Us Clean Hands, by Chris Tomlin,