Hosea , Sarah Barry
COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD
Passage: Hosea 6:1~11  
Key verse: 3
Israel Unrepentant6 “Come, let us return(A) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(B)
but he will heal us;(C)
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.(D)
2 After two days he will revive us;(E)
on the third day(F) he will restore(G) us,
that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,(H)
like the spring rains that water the earth.(I)”
4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?(J)
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.(K)
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth(L)—
then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](M)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(N)
and acknowledgment(O) of God rather than burnt offerings.(P)
7 As at Adam,[b] they have broken the covenant;(Q)
they were unfaithful(R) to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,(S)
stained with footprints of blood.
9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(T)
so do bands of priests;
they murder(U) on the road to Shechem,
carrying out their wicked schemes.(V)
10 I have seen a horrible(W) thing in Israel:
There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
Israel is defiled.(X)
11 “Also for you, Judah,
a harvest(Y) is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes(Z) of my people,
6 “Come, let us return(A) to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces(B)
but he will heal us;(C)
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.(D)
2 After two days he will revive us;(E)
on the third day(F) he will restore(G) us,
that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,(H)
like the spring rains that water the earth.(I)”
4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?(J)
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.(K)
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth(L)—
then my judgments go forth like the sun.[a](M)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(N)
and acknowledgment(O) of God rather than burnt offerings.(P)
7 As at Adam,[b] they have broken the covenant;(Q)
they were unfaithful(R) to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,(S)
stained with footprints of blood.
9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,(T)
so do bands of priests;
they murder(U) on the road to Shechem,
carrying out their wicked schemes.(V)
10 I have seen a horrible(W) thing in Israel:
There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
Israel is defiled.(X)
11 “Also for you, Judah,
a harvest(Y) is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes(Z) of my people,
Footnotes
Cross references
- Hosea 6:1 : S Isa 10:20; S 19:22
- Hosea 6:1 : S Job 16:9; La 3:11; Hos 5:14
- Hosea 6:1 : S Nu 12:13; S Jer 3:22
- Hosea 6:1 : S Dt 32:39; S Job 5:18; S Jer 30:17; Hos 14:4
- Hosea 6:2 : Ps 30:5; S 80:18
- Hosea 6:2 : S Mt 16:21
- Hosea 6:2 : S Ps 71:20
- Hosea 6:3 : S Job 4:3; Joel 2:23
- Hosea 6:3 : Ps 72:6; Hos 11:10; 12:6
- Hosea 6:4 : Hos 11:8
- Hosea 6:4 : Hos 7:1; 13:3
- Hosea 6:5 : Jer 1:9-10; 5:14; 23:29
- Hosea 6:5 : Heb 4:12
- Hosea 6:6 : S 1Sa 15:22; S Isa 1:11; Mt 9:13*; 12:7*; Mk 12:33
- Hosea 6:6 : S Jer 4:22; S Hos 2:20
- Hosea 6:6 : S Ps 40:6; Mic 6:8
- Hosea 6:7 : S Ge 9:11; S Jer 11:10; Hos 8:1
- Hosea 6:7 : S Hos 5:7
- Hosea 6:8 : Hos 12:11
- Hosea 6:9 : Ps 10:8
- Hosea 6:9 : S Hos 4:2
- Hosea 6:9 : Jer 5:30-31; 7:9-10; S Eze 22:9; S Hos 5:1; 7:1
- Hosea 6:10 : S Jer 5:30
- Hosea 6:10 : S Jer 23:14; S Eze 23:7; S Hos 5:3
- Hosea 6:11 : Jer 51:33; Joel 3:13
- Hosea 6:11 : S Ps 126:1; Zep 2:7
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. He has injured, but he will heal (1-3)
We can trust God's love. Sometimes he wounds his people so that he can really heal them. We must not give up when he punishes, for that is the very time to press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear, and we will live in the warmth of his presence.
2. Your love is like the morning mist (4-11)
Israel, both north and south, claimed to love God. But they were quick to change their affections for the sake of small benefits. How can God help such people? He sent Bible teachers to them, to teach them that God wants mercy, not superficial religious ceremonies. He wants righteousness, not violence. His word is like a sharp sword. It pierces the heart. He wants his people to acknowledge him as God and keep his covenant.
Prayer: Lord, your love for me is steadfast and sure; my love is like the morning mist. I come to you today as I am. Heal me and put your faithful love in my heart.
One Word: Press on to acknowledge God (3)