"Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring."
-- Hosea 6:3 NLT
Something about this verse (Scripture memory for March 1) captured me. Maybe it's the mention of spring rains as we approach another season of planting and growing, but I think it's more about the encouragement to "know the Lord; to press on to know Him."
The Amplified Bible records the first part of the verse this way:
"Yes, let us know
(recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him;
let us be zealous to know the Lord
[to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]."
Matthew Henry's commentary on the verse says, "When God designs mercy for a people he gives them a heart to know him."
What a beautiful picture of our relational God-- God knows us (and still loves us) and wants us to know Him.
Jeremiah 24:7 reads:
"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord.
They will be my people, and I will be their God,
for they will return to me with all their heart."
So, even the ability to know Him at all is a gift given by Him. There's also the call to "press on" to know Him. Henry says: "We must value and esteem the knowledge of God as the best knowledge, we must cry after it, and dig for it." And when our desire to know Him doesn't stir us as it should, or as it once did, we call out to Him to renew that very desire.
It's all about Him.
The second part of the verse is the promise -- His response is sure...as timely and certain as the dawn; as refreshing and nourishing as the spring rain. Despite a wet, soggy winter, I find myself "dry" at times...in need of a soaking, refreshing reminder of His presence. As the spring rains replenish the land to make it fruitful, knowing God, soaking in His presence, His Word, His Spirit, will increase our fruitfulness. Lord, rain on us that we may bear much fruit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
3 comments:
I saw your scripture post on SMT and I had picked the same one. I just loved it and came over to your blog because I saw that you are from Wisner, La and I live in Jena, La. So thankful that I did as I love the way you have shared the verse from another translation and Matthew Henry. Wow, so eye opening! thanks for sharing that and may we know the Lord and press on to know Him.
I saw your scripture post on SMT and I had picked the same one. I just loved it and came over to your blog because I saw that you are from Wisner, La and I live in Jena, La. So thankful that I did as I love the way you have shared the verse from another translation and Matthew Henry. Wow, so eye opening! thanks for sharing that and may we know the Lord and press on to know Him.
That is so cool, Carol! My daughter's best friend is from Jena! Thanks for commenting!
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