Daily Bread

Come, let us return to the Lord;
for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.’
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgement goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

You might not be familiar with this 'Song of Humility' (as it is known) from the prophet Hosea and book of the same name, but it has been traditionally used in worship during Lent.

The song is full of echoes of our life in Christ — how we who are torn and struck down will be healed and our wounds bound; how through and with Christ we will be raised on the third day; how the appearance of Christ will be as sure as the dawn and how Christ will come like showers and rains that water the earth; how God's people have been hewn (refined) by the words of God through the prophets; and how God's judgment comes through our love and knowledge and not through sacrifice and burnt offerings.

The song is rich in substance and metaphor, and despite being written in another time and culture, you can see why it has been used in worship.

It is not a song to be read quickly, and so, today I'm going to post it again. This time, slow down. Read each line one at a time. Pause. Savour the words. Take this time for you, right now, and let the words, like balm, sink into your soul.

Come, let us return to the Lord;

for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;

he has struck down, and he will bind us up.

After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;

his appearing is as sure as the dawn;

he will come to us like the showers,

like the spring rains that water the earth.’

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early.

Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgement goes forth as the light.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

Holy God
Thank you that, through being raised with Christ
you have bound up my wounds and healed me.
Thank you that my life is found in you.
Help me to press into you, learn more about you,
know you, and be known by you,
that my soul might be refreshed by your love.
And may my love for you be forever steadfast
Through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour.