Hosea 6:4-6

O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:4-6

God’s desire is for us to be faithful. That is made clear throughout the Bible and today’s verses are one of those times. Israel was rebellious and God was using Hosea to convey His heart to the nation, saying these hard-hitting words here. Saying that their faithfulness was like a morning cloud and early dew was like saying it was short lived. 

You can see a glimpse of God’s heart here as He says, much like a parent, “what shall I do with you?” They ignored the prophets, and they ignored Him. And all the while, they continued their sacrifices according to the law.

But that is not what God wanted from them. That was empty and religious. What God wants from them (and what He wants from us) is faithfulness. He doesn’t want empty religious actions and sacrifices from us. He wants a real relationship, He wants us to know him more, to be faithful to Him.

Faithful, 

Pastor David Reeves