Polarise

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. (Isaiah 58:8)

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. (Hosea 14:4)

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:15)

The context of Hosea 6:2 is of God punishing then having mercy and speaks of the early and latter rain. It is an interesting passage indeed, since it seems to be the scriptural basis for the timing of Jesus' resurrection. We can see from these passages that God wants to heal us, he loves us. But in Matthew we see a reference to Jeremiah's prophecy which speaks of the preaching of the word actually having the effect of making the people more set against God.

The time is coming when everyone will humble himself before God or proudly rebel against God's law. The preaching of the word must surely have something to do with this polarisation. We have a message to preach that will polarise the world. Let's get preaching.