Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.” The LORD says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. [Hosea 14.1-4]
We find here a picture of what repentance looks like. In fact, we have a guide for what to actually say to God in repentance. It is sort of like the Model Prayer Jesus taught in Matthew 6: it can be used as an index to guide us through what to pray.
That said, it is noteworthy what this prayer of repentance actually reveals. What Israel and mankind ever since has struggled with is idolatry: trusting in other things besides God. This is further supported by God's response, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness..."
Israel and Judah stayed in a lot of trouble with God for seeking help from other countries and kings instead of seeking help from God. They were faithless to God Who had said He would provide everything they could ever need and sought provision elsewhere.
How prevalent is this same sin today?
Father, forgive me for repeatedly looking to the world and it systems to provide that which You promised to provide.
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