CHAPTER 6

1 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. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Hosea begins to plead with the people: "COME! And let us RETURN unto the LORD!"

Now, I believe that ALL of God's Bible is inspired. The Word is "God-breathed." God, by His Holy Spirit, breathed the thouhgts into the hearts of the men, and they wrote in their language what God wanted said. ((See 2Timothy 3:16, 2Peter 1:20))

Therefore, what God says here reflects His character toward people.

It is God's GOODNESS that afflicts us when we are doing wrong. The goodness of God in affliction has an intention: to turn us in repentance.

This is much like a parent when a child does wrong. The parent "afflicts" the child with a spanking. The intention is to turn the child in repentance.

Comfort is given here. He Who has "torn" us will "heal us." He who has "smitten" us will also "bind us up."

God can bring life from death (vs 2). Even though God might afflict us unto death, He can bring life from it. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" (Job 13:15). And Job also said, "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:26-27

Verse 2 also has significance as prophecy of Christ. Jesus rose the THIRD day, "..according to the Scriptures" (1Corinthians 15:4).

And because HE lives, we who believe in Him shall live ALSO!

The "third day" refers to the fact that bodies begin to decay after they have been dead that long. But Christ's body is NOT in the tomb! He AROSE!

And even though God may allow affliction to bring death to our bodies, He can raise us up and give us life eternal with Him!

We shall "know" this (verse 3) "if we follow on to KNOW the LORD." If we believe, trust, faith, cling to our Lord, then we have the CONFIDENCE of resurrection! To KNOW Christ is to KNOW that you HAVE eternal life through His Name!

The "former" rains and the "latter" rains brought seasoning for the ground so that crops could be planted and harvested.

So shall our dead bodies be if we beleive and follow Christ! They will be planted in corruption, but reaped in INCORRUPTION! (See 1Corinthians 15:51-57)

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

What must God DO to "turn" man? He has chastised by "hewing" with His Word through prophets and preachers. He has sent decisive punitive judgments that should reveal the "light" of His truth. Yet, they are not TURNED!

God's desire is for men to KNOW Him (verse 6). By KNOWING Him, they would have mercy, and there would be no need for sacrifice. But since men do not come willingly to God, and since man always "transgresses" the laws of God, He must sacrifice for their well-being.

There's a story about a man who was asked by his wife and children if he would go to church today. He said, "No. I'm going to stay home today." While at home, a terrible snow storm came. A flock of birds, flying south, were stymied by the storm, and began seeking shelter. One by one, they began to "thump" on his window, trying to fly to the fire he had in his fireplace. THUMP! THUMP!

Finally the man determined he would try and get the birds in the barn for safety and warmth. He opened the barn door and tried to "shoo" them in. But they would not go! He sprinkled bread crumbs for them to follow - but they would not! The birds were so excited about the disastrous storm, they couldn't see the man trying to "shoo" them to safety.

Finally, in exasperation, the man said, "Well, if I could become a BIRD, I could LEAD them into the barn!"

And that's when it HIT HIM! Christ had become a MAN in order to LEAD us to salvation. His leadership was through crucifiction! GOd had to SACRIFICE in order for us to be saved!

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. 10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

God had taken particular care of Israel. His Divine Providence had led them to the "Promised Land," and given them the power to secure it to themselves.

But now, the country had become "polluted with blood" (verse 8). Even the priests were leading people astray, and thus to their death without God (verse 9).

Israel prostituted herself from God with idol worship (verse 10).

God had set a "harvest time" for Judah also. Judah followed God longer than Israel, but she too had turned to idolatry. There would be a time when God would reap because of their sowing in iniquity.

God has set man on earth and given man the laws of truth. But mankind has consistently broken God's laws, acted in selfish lust, and brought havoc on the earth.

In patience and mercy, God has dealt with man, trying to turn mankind to repentance. God even became a man, and died on a cross to show us the truth of real love and commitment.

God is STILL dealing with man in patience today, "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Peter 3:9)

But God has "set an harvest for thee" o man! There will be a day, a final day, a judgment day. It will be a day when God will "harvest" all dead souls, and bring them before Christ for determination of their final eternal destination.

Turn to Him NOW! Follow God Who became a man in Christ Jesus!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.