Words

"Take with you words and return to the Lord." Hosea 14:3

Sometimes all I do is talk, talk, talk to God, not allowing Him to say a word to me! But then I have a long seemingly unending list of prayer requests! I do not think those are the “words” this passage suggests we take to the Lord. 

Then what are the words that we should say to Him? This verse from Hosea is always recited on the Sabbath preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. (Hebrew: [ˈjom kiˈpuʁ], or יום הכיפורים) I love how the Hebrew script looks! 

The Jews usually observe this holy day with long fasting and prayer in the synagogue. It is a day of atonement and repentance.

“Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the Lord.” In Hebrew, ‘words’ means things, realities, and the connotation is we need to repent sincerely. Rabbi Len Ben Sisi wrote that the power of repentance was so great it soars all the way up to the throne of glory. 

Yes, Lord, forgive us for abandoning You. Show us the way back to You! Father, we want to be pleasing in Your sight. Wash us clean of our iniquities, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." After that, I am sure His grace will allow us to enjoy and bask in His presence!