350. Return, Seek, Fear
Hosea 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king: and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
The promise for Israel is that the people shall return and seek the Lord and shall fear the Lord and his goodness. This promise came true in the return from Exile, but the true and extended promise is for all believers in Christ: in the “latter days” believers, the people of God, will return to the Lord, seek Him, and believe the Lord and His goodness. The “latter days” are the days of the New Testament, from the time of Jesus’ First Coming to earth at Christmas and the time of His Second Coming to earth at the End of Time. During all these days the people of God will believe in the Lord and His goodness.
This promise refers to us NT believers. Through believing and following Jesus Christ we are returning, seeking and believing. The promise is that we will do so. And so it has happened in these days in which we are alive. We, the people of God, the Church, which is the New Israel, will return and seek the Lord. This is what we have done in the New Testament times. Jesus has come to earth and gathered followers. These are the children of Israel who have returned and sought the Lord their God. The Church also seeks Jesus, the Son of David their king. The promise is for each believer like me: I will return and seek the Lord and Jesus my king. I worship the Lord Jesus Christ and take Him as my only King and Lord. I will have no other.
We shall fear the Lord. In Biblical language, to “fear the Lord” means the same as “believe in Jesus.” The promise is true: we NT believers in Christ fear, love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone to the exclusion of everything else. We also believe in and trust His goodness. We confess and believe: God is good! God is not just good all the time; He is good to me. In difficult times I will still hang on to the Lord and believe that He is good to me. I do not always see the good, but I can still believe that God is good even, or especially, in troubled and threatening and painful times. God is still here in the middle of everything, and He is able to work out everything, everything, together for good. The promise is that I will seek His goodness. Faith opens the eyes to see the goodness of God in everything, and thank Him for it. It is not always easy, but you can find God’s goodness if you look for it.