Hosea 6

Notes

Ver. 1-3. Come, let us, by faith and repentance, return to the Lord who hath afflicted us, in the firm assurance of his graciously, seasonably, and speedily delivering us, and restoring us to happiness and comfort through the resurrection of Christ. And in the persevering exercise of these graces we shall experience his instruction, the clear and gradual manifestation of his favour, and his refreshing and fructifying comforts, 4-6. But ye hypocritical Israelites and Jews, what favour can be granted you? for those pretences of reformation under Hoshea, Jehu, and Hezekiah were but hypocritical: all is quickly blown over; therefore have I sharply rebuked them by the prophets, and by my threatenings devoted them to ruin; and in a little time my judgments, manifestly just, shall unavoidably overtake them. For it is inward and practical holiness and virtue, not ceremonial forms of service, that I chiefly regard. 7-11. But they, notwithstanding favours unnumbered, have, like Adam, broken my covenant, and lived as corruptly as the very heathens; even in the land which I gave them to encourage them to obedience; yea, in their very acts of devotion they have treacherously played the hypocrite, Ramoth-gilead, though inhabited by Levites, is notorious for idolatry, murder, and every other crime. The Israelitish priests who dwell there support one another in robbery, murder, and other enormities. Nay, idolatry, whoredom, and other heaven-daring wickedness, so fearfully prevail among the ten tribes of Israel, as cannot be thought of or mentioned without horror.— And even the Jews have, by their impiety, ripened themselves for destruction.—But their harassment by the Assyrians, and captivity by the Chaldeans, shall nevertheless quickly issue in joyful deliverances.

Ver. 1. Come, let us return. In this and the two following verses the prophet, in his own person, exhorts the people to return with him to the service of Jehovah. C.

Ver. 2. There are here three distinct periods. The first is the day of the captivity of the ten tribes, which closed with the captivity of Judah. The second was the day of the complete dispersion and utter desolation by the Romans. The third is the period yet to come, commencing with the restoration so often promised, so long delayed, but still a sure word of prophecy which Jehovah, who cannot lie, will assuredly accomplish in his own time, There seems also an implied allusion to the resurrection of our Lord, first carried captive by the soldiers; secondly, by death; on the third 'his going forth prepared as the morning,' when he literally arose 'early on the first day of the week, as it began to dawn.' C.

Ver. 3. Latter rain. The translation does not convey the meaning. It signifies, literally, 'the crop rain;' which, as rains in warm countries do, fell periodically early in March, a little before the Judean harvest, and served to fill the grain.—Former rain. Literally, 'the rain that makes to spring'—the spring rain, which falls on the newly sown seed in October. C.

Reflections.— All troubles ought to be viewed as coming from God, and should awaken us to faith and repentance. There is no plague in this world which the infinite mercy of God in Christ cannot cure. His providence, which distresses, can relieve; and his Spirit, who convinces, can comfort us. Let us therefore always maintain faith in a risen Redeemer, and in the infinite power and kindness of God. Our deliverance and comforts are most likely to surprise us when our case is at the darkest. But God little regards that religion which comes by fits and starts. And often much hardened are the hearts of gospel hearers when they do not practice what they hear. God indeed repeatedly warns before he destroys: but his words will certainly issue either in the death of men's sins, or in their own. Want of true morality can never be balanced by forms of religion: it but provokes Jehovah to attempt it. To what treachery, perjury, idolatry, murder, and everything horrid, professors, and especially careless clergymen, will abandon themselves! And how unanimous are mankind in their rebellion against God! No wonder then that he makes their plagues dreadful! and sovereign is the mercy when he connects deserved judgments with gracious deliverances.