Psalms 78:34-36

78:34 When he struck them down, they sought his favor;

they turned back and longed for God.

78:35 They remembered that God was their protector,

and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.

78:36 But they deceived him with their words,

and lied to him.

Hosea 5:15--6:4

5:15 Then I will return again to my lair

until they have suffered their punishment.

Then they will seek me;

in their distress they will earnestly seek me.

Superficial Repentance Breeds False Assurance of God’s Forgiveness

6:1 “Come on! Let’s return to the Lord!

He himself has torn us to pieces,

but he will heal us!

He has injured us,

but he will bandage our wounds!

6:2 He will restore us in a very short time;

he will heal us in a little while,

so that we may live in his presence.

6:3 So let us acknowledge him!

Let us seek to acknowledge the Lord!

He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn,

as certainly as the winter rain comes,

as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.”

Transitory Faithfulness and Imminent Judgment

6:4 What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim?

What am I going to do with you, O Judah?

For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist;

it disappears as quickly as dawn’s dew!