Return to Our Father
The people's song of return opens it, since he tore us and will heal us, but our Father answers that their love is a morning cloud burning off by noon. What he wants is covenant love and knowing him, not sacrifice. Then priests who murder travelers.
6 1Come, let us return to our Father, for he has torn us so he can heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bandage our wounds. a a v1 Our Father's wounding is never the last word — he tears only to heal, strikes only to bind up. The discipline is aimed at bringing his children home. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up so we can live before him. b b v2 The third-day raising points ahead to Jesus, raised on the third day so that we might live before our Father (1 Corinthians 15:4). 3Let us know, let us press on to know our Father. He goes forth as surely as the dawn; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
4"What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that disappears early. 5Therefore I have cut them down by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth like the light. 6For I desire covenant love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of our Father rather than burnt offerings. c c v6 Jesus quoted this verse twice — "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13; 12:7) — to show that our Father longs to be known and loved, not merely served with offerings. 7But like Adam they broke the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, marked with bloody footprints. 9As robbers lie in wait for a victim, so the company of priests murders on the road to Shechem; yes, they commit shameful crimes. 10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim's prostitution is there; Israel is defiled.
11"For you also, Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore the fortunes of my children."
