Return to Me, faithless Isreal. I will look on you with mercy, not anger. I will not hold this grudge against you forever. Just admit what you did - your sin against Me. How you rebelled against the Eternal your God. How you have yourself away to these foreign gods in the open, under the trees! How you disobeyed My voice. Come back home, My restless, faithless ones, for I am you master, your husband (not that other god), and I will take you in - one from this city, two from that clan; I will bring you home to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds who trust and know Me, wise teachers who will impart knowledge and understanding to you.
Observation
God calls out the sin of Israel, but in doing so He reminds them of who He is. He is merciful and faithful; He is love and His promises are sure. God is telling Israel and all of us, that He has seen our sin and want's to restore us to Himself. All we need to do is confess our sin and turn from it, and He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
When He gives us this opportunity to confess and turn from sin, it is a gift. It is not one that everyone receives and accepts, but it is a gift nonetheless. God also adds an interesting promise for repentance. He promises us shepherds, wise teachers. He is saying that the road back is one that we will not have to do alone. He will send us others to disciple us along the way. That is a pretty phenomenal promise!
Application
My mom told me this week that repentance is a gift. I can see that clearly in these scriptures. I have received the gift of repentance several times in the past and God has been faithful to surround me wise counsel to travel with me back to Him. Repentance is a gift that I don't ever want to take for granted.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of repentance. Please continue to humble me so that I will be quick to confess and turn from sin. Father, You are my master and my husband, thank You for always taking me in and welcoming me back to You. I also praise You for the wise counsel that You have given me to draw me back to You.
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