Hosea 6
Now the prophet, speaking according to the mind of God, and linking himself with his people, pleads with them:
“Come and let us return unto the Lord, for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten and He will bind us up.”
God had not entirely and forever given them up, though their sins were enough to have cut them off from any further hope of His favor.
Surely there is a present-day application of this appeal! What lack of affection for the Lord is noticeable now among His heavenly people! What neglect of the Word of God! What worldliness! Come and let us return into the Lord!
Verse 2 points to an interval before God would turn again to His earthly people—an interval during which He would present the gospel of His grace to Jew and Gentile alike, and the Church would be formed; though of this Hosea knew nothing. See John 2, where “the third day” is evidently a foreshadowing of the millennial blessing of Israel. The language of the verse brings to mind the Lord’s death and resurrection; it is a token to Israel that as their messiah rose again after two days, their nation will be revived by divine power also.
In verse 3 the meaning is more clearly expressed thus:
“And we shall know, we shall follow on to know the Lord (Jehovah); His going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth.” (N.T.) Such is Israel’s bright prospect when born again.
In verse 4 it is God that speaks:
“What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do unto thee, Judah?”
Their goodness was as short lived as a morning, cloud and as the dew. Therefore, He had sent to them the prophets, “hewing” and “slaying” the people by the keen edge of the Word of God. In the latter part of the 5th verse read “My judgments”, instead of “thy judgments”. “Mercy”, in verse 6, is the same word in the Hebrews as is translated “goodness” in verse 4. God delights in the ways of His people that are consistent with His own character; it is the heart that He seeks, and not an exhibition of empty religion.
Verses 8-10 show the true and hopelessly had state of Israel (the ten tribes), and the last verse points to Judah’s as calling for judgment. It is rightly read,
“Also for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of My people.” The “harvest” will be a time of searching judgment.
ML 10/25/1936