Hosea Pleads with Israel

GOLDEN TEXT: “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” —Hosea 6:6

HOSEA, CHAPTER 6

HOSEA served as prophet “in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.” (ch. 1:1) The righteousness of the nation was at a low ebb during that period, particularly in the northern kingdom over which Jeroboam was king. We have found this from previous lessons, and have also learned that the overthrow of the nation and its being taken into captivity were prophesied.

In today’s lesson we find Hosea pleading with the people for reform, rather than pronouncing further judgments. The Lord takes no delight in punishing his people. He would much rather see them repent and return to him and become obedient to his laws. And it is through obedience to his laws that his people become acquainted with him, learning thus to know him as one who delights in mercy and loving-kindness.

Our Golden Text suggests this thought. In the ordinances of the Law pertaining to the tabernacle and its services, and later the temple, animal sacrifices were called for—for sin-offerings, for burnt offerings, for peace offerings, etc. The Israelites were expected to provide these sacrifices, and they were to be offered strictly in accordance with the instructions given by the Lord to Moses. The nation could not have been pleasing to God if these sacrifices were neglected.

Nevertheless, as our Golden Text explains, what the Lord desired in connection with these sacrifices was not merely a show of obedience, but that in their observance the people might learn to know him and learn to follow his example of mercy and loving-kindness. The Israelites knew, for example, that certain definite benefits came to them as a result of the yearly atonement-day sacrifices offered by the high priest. They knew that through this arrangement God extended his mercy to them. But they did not learn this lesson as they should have; much less did they learn to emulate God by extending mercy to one another.

In a larger sense, all the typical sacrifices offered in connection with the tabernacle and temple services pointed forward to the “better sacrifices” of this present age, beginning with Jesus, who was sacrificed as the “Lamb of God” to take away the sin of the world. The ransom is the very hub of the divine plan of salvation, and through it we see manifested the justice, love, and wisdom of God. It is a marvelous thing to be able to understand the redemptive program as arranged by God, but this knowledge in itself would fall short of its purpose if we failed to see the glory of God revealed through his loving provision of a Redeemer.

Hosea said to Israel, “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.” (vss. 1,2) Obviously this reference is not to twenty-four hour days, for the Lord did not smite Israel and raise the nation up again all within a period of three literal days.

The “days” mentioned are symbolic, the reference being to the fifth and sixth thousand-year days in man’s work-week of struggle against sin and death, and to the day of restoration, the seventh, or sabbath period, the Millennium, during which Israel and the whole world will be restored to health and life.

The prophecy of smiting began to be fulfilled about the time of Christ’s first advent, when Jesus said to the nation, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) Now we are nearing the end of that “two day” period of smiting and already we see signs of Israel’s restoration. The blessings of the third “day” are very near.

It will be then that the people of Israel, and indeed all mankind, will know the Lord, if they “follow on,” by obeying the laws of the new kingdom which will then be ruling throughout the earth. It will be then that the “going forth,” or manifestation, of the Lord on behalf of his people will be “as the morning.” That will be the messianic age, when one of the manifestations of the Messiah will be as “Sun of Righteousness” who will arise “with healing in his wings.”—Mal. 4:2

Referring to the Israelites, Hosea wrote, “They like men [margin, Adam] have transgressed the covenant.” (vs. 7) But mercy will be shown to Israel, and the people will be restored. Just so, all mankind who lost life because Adam transgressed the covenant, will have an opportunity to be restored, and all because of the loving provision made through the Redeemer.

QUESTIONS

When did Hosea serve as prophet in Israel?

What did God desire in connection with all his dealings with Israel?

Explain the significance of the “two days” and the “third day” referred to in verse 2 of the lesson.

What is meant by the statement that the Lord’s “going forth” is “prepared as the morning”?

What are the two covenants referred to in verse 7?

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