Yesterday we read Hosea 6: 1-3, in which Hosea prophesies about the resurrection of Christ and all believers. This is in line with the New Testament. Today we are further investigating the meaning of this revelation.
In Eph. 2:4-6, Paul says:
“God... made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up together [that is, from the dead], and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
As soon as we are willing, by faith, to accept our identification with Christ in His death for our sins, we find that we are also identified with Christ in His resurrection and in His victorious life upon God’s throne. Entering in through His death, we become partakers also of His resurrection. In brief but powerful words, Jesus conveyed the same truth to His disciples.
“Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)
This is why the prophetic revelation states in Hosea 6:2: “On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.”
This prophecy reveals not only that Christ was to be raised on the third day, but also that, according to God’s eternal purpose in the gospel, all those who believed in Christ were to be identified with Him in His resurrection.
However, Hosea also warns that this secret of God’s purpose in the resurrection of Christ will be revealed only to those who are willing to seek the truth with faith and diligence, for he says in the next verse:
“Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” (Hos. 6:3)
This revelation is only for those who “pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” For those who do, Hosea continues: “His going forth is established as the morning” (Hos. 6:3). That is, the resurrection of Christ from the dead is as sure and certain in God’s purpose as the rising of the sun after the darkness of night. This is closely parallel to the prophecy of Christ’s resurrection in Malachi.
“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” (4:2)
Again we notice a limitation of those to whom this revelation of the risen Christ will be granted: It is not for all men but “to you who fear My name.” Finally, Hosea indicates that the resurrection of Christ will be closely followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for he continues:
“He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” (Hos. 6:3)
The rain is here a figure of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring, divided into two main visitations – the former rain and the latter rain.
In accurate fulfilment of this prophecy, the New Testament records that on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Christ’s resurrection, the former rain of the Holy Spirit began to be poured out upon His waiting disciples – those who had pursued the knowledge of the Lord.
Lord, thank You for the accuracy with which You have revealed in Your Word Your plans for and with humanity, and that we may know those plans from Your Word. My heart is wide open for that, Lord! Help me to continue to grow in that treasure that You have placed in my heart: the fear of the Lord! Amen.
