What does it really mean to turn back to God? Well, it’s more than just engaging in religious rituals. God’s Old Testament people offered sacrifices of animals to Him, but because they weren’t repentant, He didn’t delight in them (8:13). Just showing up for public worship, or even putting money in the offering plate doesn’t make us acceptable to God.

Instead, God says He is more interested in the quality of our relationship with Him. He wants us to be loyal to Him (6:6), rather than looking to powerful friends and allies to protect us (7:11). God wants us to know Him, really know Him (6:6), instead of just assuming that we understand Him and His ways, while continuing to reject what He tells us (8:2-3).

Yes, repentance involves more than just expressing sorrow when God punishes us for our sins. It even goes further than being sorry we broke God’s perfect law of love for Him and for others. For repentance is nothing less than turning away from our sin and from ourselves and turning back to the Lord. It acknowledges that the only One Who can heal us is the One Who has allowed us to suffer the consequences of our sin. It is determined to draw closer to God, to know more about Him, not just to satisfy our intellectual curiosity, but in order to live in the way He wants us to live (6:1-3).

So, that’s the choice that faces us today and every day. Will we draw near to the Christ Who, in spite of our sin, has loved us enough to die for us? Will we turn away from everything else in which we put our trust and be loyal to Him alone? Will we direct our steps, not according to our own reason or experience or tradition, but only according to His holy Word? In short, will we truly repent?

Hosea 6:1-7 (NASB)

“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
2 “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day That we may live before Him.
3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, And like the dew which goes away early.
5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.