Hosea 6:1-3
by
Rev. Mark Perkins, Pastor
Denver Bible Church
326 E. Colorado Ave.
Denver, Colorado 80210
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Introduction
1. This sixth chapter is a message from the heart of Hosea. Remember,
he has now seen the recovery of his own wife. He has witnessed
the grace of God transforming her from both general and specific
idolatry, and he has formed the conclusion that if she can do
it, then so can they.
2. The fifth chapter was the product of God speaking to Israel
through Hosea, but it was the direct message of God. Now the
sixth chapter is the product of Hosea under the enduement of
the Spirit.
3. While there is life there is hope. Though the fifth and final
cycle of disciple has been mentioned twenty or more times so
far, it is not necessary for it to apply to this generation in
the Northern kingdom. The fifth cycle is a fixture in the Divine
Decree, but the question of when remains unanswered.
Topic: Chastisement (Divine
Discipline)
4. This chapter was written after the Jezreel valley campaign,
but before the final destruction of the nation. Remember, at
Jezreel the nation lost its ability to resist the Assyrian military
might.
5. Both Judah and Israel are the targets of Hosea's message.
Hosea 6:1
"Come, and let us return unto Yahweh; for he himself
has torn that he may heal us; He has smitten that he may bind
us."
1. The qal imperative of the verb "to come together"
with the cohortative imperfect of SHUB combine to make a very
compelling personal plea from Hosea. "Come, and let us return..."
2. With that combination Hosea both commands and pleads. Commanding
in the hope that there is someone left with authority orientation,
pleading in the hope that someone is left with a conscience.
3. The direction of the return is to Yahweh, and, of course,
relationship with Him. Yahweh is also seen as the source of the
Israelite defeat, which Hosea describes with two words.
A. TARAQ means to tear the flesh violently, such as what happens in the attack of a wild animal. God used it in Hosea 5:14 to describe the attack of the lion. Yahweh produces this action.
B. YAK means to smite or strike someone *without* the intent to murder them. A good illustration would be to strike someone to disarm them, but not kill them. It is a blow that knocks someone out.
4. But in this verse, God does these things in order to bring
Israel back in line. It is harsh and violent, but there is still
hope.
5. He tears in order to heal. This is certainly true in the medical
profession. From our modern frame of reference we can easily
relate to this necessity.
6. He smites in order to bind. This is the exact picture of the
police officer arresting the violent criminal. He knocks him
out in order to arrest him.
7. Hosea pleads with Israel, and as his evidence he cites the
divine discipline that they are currently enduring. However,
Hosea goes another step: he attempts to communicate Yahweh's
pure motivation in providing the discipline.
Hosea 6:2
"He will restore us to being after two days; on the third
day he will personally raise us that we may live before his face."
1. Now here is a messianic prophecy, certainly so.
2. But first the part intended for Israel in that time.
A. The 'after two days; on the third day is an uncommon figure of speech - an epanorthosis, an absolute correction.
1. So this is in part a parallelism, but one in which the second line corrects the first. It is like saying, 'there are four people in this room', and then remembering yourself you say, 'there are five people in this room.'
2. So the first line is not truth, while the second line is absolute truth.a. The first line is false for two reasons:
(1) First is the verb. Once created, all beings are eternal. HAYAH is the verb to be, and it does not work well at all with the concept of resurrection, even though it is okay with the rebirth of a nation.
(2) Second is the number of days. After two days is fine, but on the third day is far more specific. After two days can be a million; on the third day limits the field dramatically.
b. The second line is truth, because,(1) First, it uses a more accurate word for resurrection - YAQMENU, which often means 'to rise up after sleep or injury'. Isaiah 26:19 uses it exactly in this way, and Psalm 88:11 as well.
(2) Second, because it uses the right number of days for the resurrection of the Messiah. 1 Cor 15:4, "and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," The only Scripture possible for this is Hosea 6:2.
(3) God the Holy Spirit inspired Hosea to correct himself in order to fit this verse into a messianic expectation.
B. Some examples of the Messianic prophecies: Special credit to "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", by Josh McDowell.1. The prediction of the coming Messiah: Gen 3:15; Deuteronomy 18:15; Psa 89:20; Isa 9:6; 28:16; 32:1; 35:4; 42:6; 49:1; 55:4; Esek 34:24; Dan 2:44; Micah 4:1; Zech 3:8.
2. The prediction of the first advent: Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Dan 9:24; Mal 3:1.
3. His Deity: Psa 2:7,11; 45:6,7,11; 72:8; 102:24-27; 89:26-27; 110:1; Isa 9:6; 25:9; 40:10; Jer 23:6; Mic 5:2; Mal 3:1.
4. His humanity: Gen 12:3; 18:18; 21:12; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; 49:10; 2 Sam 7:14; Psa 18:4-6,50; 22:22-23; 89:4; 29:36; 132:11; Isa 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15.
5. John the Baptist: Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; 4:5.
6. The nativity: Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22.
7. The place of birth: Num 24:17,19; Mic 5:2.
8. The adoration of the Magi: Psa 72:10,15; Isa 60:3,6.
9. The flight to Egypt: Hosea 11:1.
10. The massacre of the infants: Jer 31:15.
11. A priest like Melchizedek: Psa 110:4.
12. A prophet like Moses: Deut 18:15.
13. Ministry in Galilee: Isa 9:1,2.
14. Miracles: Isa 35:5-6; 42:7; 53:4.
15. Purification of the Temple: Psa 69:9.
16. Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: Psa 8:2; 118:25-26; Zech 9:9.
17. Betrayal for thirty pieces of silver: Zech 11:12.
18. Crucifixion, Psa 22:14,17.
19. Offer of Gall and Vinegar. Psa 69:21.
20. Cries of pain, Psa 22:1; 31:5.
21. Casting of lots for His robe, Psa 22:18.
22. Bones not broken, Psa 34:20.
23. Piercing of the side, Psa 22:!6; Zech 12:10; 13:6.
24. Burial with the rich, Isa 53:9.
25. Resurrection, Psa 16:8-10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Hosea 6:2.
26. Ascension, Psa 16:11; 24:7; 68:18; 110:1; 118:19.
C. The resurrection prophecies are:1. Psalm 16:8-10, "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rjoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neith wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay."
2. Psalm 30:3, "O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."
3. Psalm 41:10, "But thou, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them."
4. Psalm 118:17, "I shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord."
D. Messianic prophecies give us hope, that is, great confidence in the accuracy and usability of the Word of God. They instill in us a doctrinal orientation to life.
Hosea 6:3
"So let us know, let us pursue to know Yahweh. His going
forth is as certain as the dawn, and he will come to us like
the rain; like the spring rain waters the earth."
A. This is a wonderful appeal from a very emotional Hosea. He
now moves from a negative assessment of idols to a positive revelation
of God.
B. Hosea employs the cohortative verb to exhort his fellow countrymen
to return to God. With the exhortation to knowledge comes an
example of what might be known.
C. In the first sentence, Hosea attempts to move his audience
to re-enter their relationship with God.
1. He first says, 'let us know', and then more accurately, 'let us pursue to know'. He does this because in this life we will never fully know God; that full knowledge waits until the next life.
2. The verb to know is YADHA, intimate personal knowledge of another. This is relationship knowledge, and it is the requirement for all believers in human history.
3. RADAPH means to pursue, to follow closely with the purpose of securing. Isaiah 51:1 uses it to describe the pursuit of righteousness, a very similar thing.
4. The pursuit of a relationship with God is a lifelong endeavor - you will never actually
arrive in this lifetime. A finite mind cannot ever fully comprehend the infinite God.
5. But Hosea tells us the right thing. That is, to continue to pursue God, to maintain our relationship with Him through knowledge.
D. Next Hosea turns to an attribute of God, and illustrates that
attribute. In other words, Hosea attempts to show why God is
worthy to be known.
1. The attribute of God that Hosea concentrates on is faithfulness, summarized in the term 'going forth'. This Hebrew word is MOTSA, and it concentrates on the activity of a person. Here, it speaks of God's interaction with man.
2. What Hosea says is that God's interaction with man is absolutely faithful and sure.a. God is Immutable (unchangeable)
(1) This is the perfection of God as applied to His own temperament.
(2) Temperament is defined here as the manner in which God thinks and expresses Himself.
(3) A person with a volatile temperament is always changing what they think and how they express themselves.
(4) God never changes in any way or for any reason.
(5) Perfection and infinity together imply that God never has a need to change.
(6) Immutability means that God is not growing or improving in any way.
(7) You cannot improve upon perfection.
(8) Human beings must change in order to grow spiritually; because of our finite and imperfect natures we change. Change for the better is not wrong with reference to humans.
(9) Scripture references to Immutability(a) Ps 102:27, "But you remain the same, and your years will never end."
(b) Mal 3:6, "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."b. God is Faithful
(1) Because God never changes, He is unfailing in everything that He does for mankind.
(2) He is never going to change His mind about us or what He has done for us.
(3) He is never going to change in His essence, capabilities, or attributes.
(4) This means that we can always depend on Him.
(5) This should give us confidence when we go to Him in prayer, because we know that His policy, His thinking, His very essence never changes.
(6) Illustration: people change. Some individuals you never know how to interact with because they are always changing.
(7) Change in human beings can be good. But God is already perfect and never has to change.
(8) Scripture.
Psa 57:3, "He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends His love and his faithfulness."
Psa 86:15, "But you, O lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."
Psa 108:4, "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies."
Lam 3:23, "They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
(9) Illustration: the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32.3. Hosea's illustration is the spring rain that waters the earth.
a. The Holy land had a pretty consistent annual weather pattern. For eight months out of the year it was dry, this was April through November; for four months there was a rainy season - December through March.
b. The spring rains are the ones later in the rainy season. They make it muddy and wet for the planting of crops.
c. This illustration is especially appropriate, because it has to do with logistical grace. The spring rains were a necessity for the annual crops and the food that the people would eat throughout the year.
d. So the weather pattern was a perfect illustration of the faithfulness of God. This is part of Hosea's exhortation for the people of Israel to get to know God. You can depend on Him.
e. This also contrasts well with idols, on whom they could not depend.
f. Now Hosea turns to the character of the people, which he will contrast with that of God.
End of Lesson 19
Grace Notes
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