The Lord Desires Mercy Not Sacrifice

God is Just and Merciful

Justice and Sabbath Laws

Hosea 6:1-7 The Message

Gangs of Priests Assaulting Worshipers

6 1-3 “Come on, let’s go back to God.
    He hurt us, but he’ll heal us.
He hit us hard,
    but he’ll put us right again.
In a couple of days we’ll feel better.
    By the third day he’ll have made us brand-new,
Alive and on our feet,
    fit to face him.
We’re ready to study God,
    eager for God-knowledge.
As sure as dawn breaks,
    so sure is his daily arrival.
He comes as rain comes,
    as spring rain refreshing the ground.”
4-7 “What am I to do with you, Ephraim?
    What do I make of you, Judah?
Your declarations of love last no longer
    than morning mist and predawn dew.
That’s why I use prophets to shake you to attention,
    why my words cut you to the quick:
To wake you up to my judgment
    blazing like light.
I’m after love that lasts, not more religion.
    I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
You broke the covenant—just like Adam!
    You broke faith with me—ungrateful wretches!

For Reflection

Like Adam, we broke our covenant with God. In doing so. We have difficulty seeing or knowing the will of God. We become so frustrated by a deep dissatisfaction with things as we think they are. It is then, with nothing satisfying to which to turn, we reach out to God.  God will then give us the opportunity to understand, to know the love, goodness, and mercy that is our God. Then we realize the suffering is of our own making and we begin to see beyond our human condition and into the will of God.

Pray

Pray prayers of confession. Ask God to ease your suffering and God will illuminate your path to salvation.  Pray and look for the opportunities God has given you and find in them the rest and peace that is yours.

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