Hosea 6

Verses 1-3 appear to be a continuation of chapter 5. Who, exactly, is being represented as speaking here is not clear. It might be Hosea himself calling Israel back to God. The key: “Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD,” (v. 3). Remember that lack of knowledge had destroyed them in the first place (4:6). And in 2:8, “For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold.” Recalling from whence our wonderful blessings come might go a long way in helping us appreciate and serve Jehovah.

But, beginning in verse 4, the Lord speaks again and bemoans the fact that such repentance has yet to take place—or, if it had, there wasn’t much to it. “What shall I do with you?” He asks both kingdoms. “For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away” (v. 4). If they had returned to Him, it hadn’t lasted long. God sent His prophets to teach and rebuke, but that had failed (v. 5). Apparently—an age old story—Israel thought that they could appease God with as little effort as possible. Give Him a few sacrifices and maybe that will be sufficient. But it wasn’t and it never will be: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (v. 6). All the outward religious ceremonialism is vain unless accompanied by a pure heart and a righteous life. This was just as true in Judaism as it is in Christianity. But “they transgressed the covenant” (v. 7), even Judah: “Gilead is a city of evildoers, and defiled with blood” (v. 8). Look at the state of the priesthood (v. 9): “As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; surely they commit lewdness.” In other words, Israel’s pack of idolatrous priests would wait by the roadside for anyone going to Jerusalem to truly worship the Lord and they would kill him. The reason? “They commit lewdness”—they no longer have any attachment to Jehovah, they are a crowd of pagans. And, again, this is the priesthood of the northern kingdom. What could the people do? They’d be killed if they tried to serve the Lord. It’s a horrible thing the Lord has seen, this harlotry in Ephraim (v. 10), and “O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,” too (v. 11).

These are short chapters, but powerful indictments of the wickedness of the Israelites. And they give us clear indication of what the Lord thinks of our own disobedience and slothfulness—nationally and individually.