Hosea 6:1-6 reflects a dialogue, with the people of Israel speaking in verses 1-3, and the Lord responding in verses 4-6.
The accusations of God’s violent action must be understood in the context of what I often call, “the Old Testament mentality.” In verse one, the people claim that God has “torn us” and “injured us.” In verse five, God states, “I cut you in pieces,” and “I killed you with the words of my mouth.” The Old Testament mentality has such a high view of God’s sovereignty and authority that God is ultimately blamed for everything that happens, including the consequences of people’s sin (which they actually bring upon themselves). A clear example of this is evident in 1 Samuel 16:14 (also 18:10) which claims that, “an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him (Saul).” God is not in the business of sending evil spirits on people. The previous chapters of 1 Samuel make it clear that Saul had directly disobeyed God on at least two occasions. Thus, Saul had brought evil upon himself. Nevertheless, as the sovereign of the universe, without whom nothing can happen, God takes responsibility and was blamed for Saul’s actions. The greatest manifestation of this grace is seen in how God, in Christ, takes responsibility for the sins of His creatures by dying on the cross.
The point is that the tearing and injury and cutting in pieces and killing is actually brought about as a consequence of the people’s sinful actions and pursuing life apart from God (see Hosea 6: 7-10). “He has torn us” and “he has injured us” can be seen as statements of confession; the recognition of what the people have brought upon themselves. In response to this recognition, the people call themselves to repentance and to return to the Lord (6:1a). The people recognize that returning to the Lord will bring healing, the binding of wounds, revival, and restoration (6:1b-2). The result of returning to the Lord (6:1a) and acknowledging Him (6:3a) is that the people “may live in his presence” (6:2b) and that God “will appear” (6:3). The main result clause for the opening exhortations (“come, let us return” [6:1a] and “let us acknowledge the Lord” [6:3a]) is that God “will appear; he will come to us” (6:3b). This is the great expectation of advent; God coming to us! Let us return to the Lord, acknowledge Him, and celebrate His coming!
Dr. Thomas J. King
Thomas King has been attending Trinity Church of the Nazarene since 2019. Tom and Janine have three daughters and four grandchildren. Thomas completed a B.A. in pastoral ministries at Northwest Christian College (now Bushnell University), an M.Div. at Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University, and a Ph.D. in Old Testament Biblical Studies at the Graduate Theological Union. Thomas is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and is professor of Old Testament at Nazarene Bible College (since 1996). Tom and Janine love to hike in the mountains and play with their grandchildren. Tom also enjoys peaceful afternoons sipping tea and reading detective mysteries.
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