Hosea
Summary
The CALL TO REPENTANCE and the indictment of insincerity. it begins with the famous appeal to 'return to the LORD' who will heal and revive His people like the morning rain. it features the profound standard of God's desire: 'I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings'. it describes how despite this, Israel and Judah have transgressed the covenant like Adam, being treacherous in their dealings.
Come, and let us return to the LORD: for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has 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.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.
O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.
Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and your judgements are as the light that goes forth.
For I desired [1] mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me.
Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
Also, O Judah, he has set an harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of My people.