A Cycle of Faithfulness

I usually find myself studying the gospels or Paul's epistles, and rarely am I immersed in the books of history or prophecy. I guess I find them a little . . . dry or harder to understand.

I'm trying to break out of my comfort zone, though, and over the last year or so, I've studied Joshua and Judges, and now I'm in a study in Hosea.

Know what I've learned? Throughout recorded history, there's been a cycle of God's faithfulness to His children. In Judges, there is story after story of how the people of Isreal turned away from God, faced difficulties, and then cried out to the very God they'd rejected. And God faithfully cared for them. Over and over.

And now in Hosea, I see the same thing: God's people, those whom He loves abundantly, turn away from Him, reject Him, turn to other idols . . . and yet, even as God rightfully disciplines their disobedience, words of hope shine through.

Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up [the NASB says that He will "bandage" us].
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
(Hosea 6:1-3)

I use a study Bible that tells me the concept of "on the third day" refers to a "quickness of healing."

We don't deserve God's love or healing or reconciliation. I know I don't.

But how grateful I am that God is faithful. How grateful I am that He loves me with a love I can't begin to understand.

How grateful I am . . .