I’m finding the study of Hosea daunting. However, there is also a sweet nugget of information that leads me to believe, though I’m not sure if Hosea knew, that the first few verses of chapter 6 allude to Jesus’s time in the grave and his resurrection. It also could have been a known saying throughout Judah and Israel, possibly explaining why they tried to cover up the period of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
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. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Hosea 6:1-2
Hosea, or whoever is speaking in the first few verses, mentions how soothing it would be for God to heal them, much like the spring and fall rains. However, in this instance, some may have wanted to turn back to the Lord, at least in words, but they didn’t because God pointed out their continued iniquities.
But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. Hosea 6:7
Many people want to turn to the Lord, but the things of the flesh keep drawing them back to sinful behavior and keeping them from fully turning their hearts over to the Lord. We plant the seeds, but the Holy Spirit draws them to the Lord, but they must be able to see their need for him. It seems that Judah and Israel wanted God’s blessing but didn’t want to turn from their evil ways. God will not relent in his punishment until there is total submission to His will, which is a good lesson for all of us to remember.