JFB : Hosea 6

      @Ho 6:1-11. THE ISRAELITES' EXHORTATION TO ONE ANOTHER TO SEEK THE LORD.

      At @Ho 6:4 a new discourse, complaining of them, begins; for @Ho 6:1-3 evidently belong to @Ho 5:15, and form the happy termination of Israel's punishment: primarily, the re tur n from Babylon; ultimately, the return from their present long dispersion. @Ho 6:8 perhaps refers to the murder of Pekahiah; the discourse cannot be later than Pekah's reign, for it was under it that Gilead was carried into captivity (@2Ki 15:29).

      1. let us return--in order that God who has "returned to His place" may return to us (@Ho 5:15).
      torn, and . . . heal--(@De 32:39 Jer 30:17). They ascribe their punishment not to fortune, or man, but to God, and acknowledge that none (not the Assyrian, as they once vainly thought, @Ho 5:13) but God can heal their wound. They are at the same time persuaded of the mercy of God, which persuasion is the starting-point of true repentance, and without which men would not seek, but hate and flee from God. Though our wound be severe, it is not past hope of recovery; there is room for grace, and a hope of pardon. He hath smitten us, but not so badly that He cannot heal us (@Ps 130:4).

      2. Primarily, in type, Israel's national revival, in a short period ("two or three" being used to denote a few days, @Isa 17:6 Lu 13:32,33); antitypically the language is so framed as to refer in its full accuracy only to Messiah, the ideal Israel (@Isa 49:3; compare @Mt 2:15, with @Ho 11:1), raised on the third day (@Joh 2:19 1Co 15:4; compare @Isa 53:10). "He shall prolong His days." Compare the similar use of Israel's political resurrection as the type of the general resurrection of which "Christ is the first-fruits" (@Isa 26:19 Eze 37:1-14 Da 12:2).
      live in his sight--enjoy His countenance shining on us, as of old; in contrast to @Ho 5:6,15, "Withdrawn Himself from them."

      3. know, if we follow on to know the Lord--The result of His recovered favor (@Ho 6:2) will be onward growth in saving knowledge of God, as the result of perseverance in following after Him (@Ps 63:8 Isa 54:13). "Then" implies the consequence of the revival in @Ho 6:2. The "if" is not so much conditional, as expressive of the means which God's grace will sanctify to the full enlightenment of Israel in the knowledge of Him. As want of "knowledge of God" has been the source of all evils (@Ho 4:1 5:4), so the knowledge of Him will bring with it all blessings; yea, it is "life" (@Joh 17:3). This knowledge is practice, not mere theory (@Jer 22:15,16). Theology is life, not science; realities, not words. This onward progress is illustrated by the light of "morning" increasing more and more "unto the perfect day" (@Pr 4:18).
      prepared--"is sure," literally, "fixed," ordered in His everlasting purposes of love to His covenant-people. Compare "prepared of God" (@Ge 41:32, Margin; @Re 12:6). Jehovah shall surely come to the relief of His people after their dark night of calamity.
      as the morning--(@2Sa 23:4).
      as the rain . . . latter . . . former--(@Job 29:23 Joe 2:23). First, "the rain" generally is mentioned; then the two rains (@De 11:14) which caused the fertility of Palestine, and the absence of which was accounted the greatest calamity: "the latter rain" which falls in the latter half of February, and during March and April, just before the harvest whence it takes its name, from a root meaning " to gather"; and "the former rain," literally, "the darting rain," from the middle of October to the middle of December. As the rain fertilizes the otherwise barren land, so God's favor will restore Israel long nationally lifeless.

      4. what shall I do unto thee--to bring thee back to piety. What more could be done that I have not done, both in mercies and chastenings (@Isa 5:4)? At this verse a new discourse begins, resuming the threats (@Ho 5:14). See opening remarks on this chapter.
      goodness--godliness.
      morning cloud--soon dispersed by the sun (@Ho 13:3). There is a tacit contrast here to the promise of God's grace to Israel hereafter, in @Ho 6:3. His going forth is "as the morning," shining more and more unto the perfect day; your goodness is "as a morning cloud," soon vanishing. His coming to His people is "as the (fertilizing) latter and former rains"; your coming to Him "as the early dew goeth away."

      5. I hewed them by the prophets--that is, I announced by the prophets that they should be hewn asunder, like trees of the forest. God identifies His act with that of His prophets; the word being His instrument for executing His will (@Jer 1:10 Eze 43:3).
      by . . . words of my mouth--(@Isa 11:4 Jer 23:29 Heb 4:12).
      thy judgments--the judgments which I will inflict on thee, Ephraim and Judah (@Ho 6:4). So "thy judgments," that is, those inflicted on thee (@Zep 3:15).
      are as the light, &c.--like the light, palpable to the eyes of all, as coming from God, the punisher of sin. HENDERSON translates, "lightning" (compare @Job 37:3, Margin; @Job 35:15).

      6. mercy--put for piety in general, of which mercy or charity is a branch.
      not sacrifice--that is, "rather than sacrifice." So "not" is merely comparative (@Ex 16:8 Joe 2:13 Joh 6:27 1Ti 2:14). As God Himself instituted sacrifices, it cannot mean that He desired them not absolutely, but that even in the Old Testament, He valued moral obedience as the only end for which positive ordinances, such as sacrifices, were instituted--as of more importance than a mere external ritual obedience (@1Sa 15:22 Ps 50:8,9 51:16 Isa 1:11,12 Mic 6:6-8 Mt 9:13 12:7).
      knowledge of God--experimental and practical, not merely theoretical (@Ho 6:3 Jer 22:16 1Jo 2:3,4). "Mercy" refers to the second table of the law, our duty to our fellow man; "the knowledge of God" to the first table, our duty to God, including inward spiritual worship. The second table is put first, not as superior in dignity, for it is secondary, but in the order of our understanding.

      7. like men--the common sort of men (@Ps 82:7). Not as Margin, "like Adam," @Job 31:33. For the expression "covenant" is not found elsewhere applied to Adam's relation to God; though the thing seems implied (@Ro 5:12-19). Israel "transgressed the covenant" of God as lightly as men break everyday compacts with their fellow men.
      there--in the northern kingdom, Israel.