Hosea Summary Chapter 6

In order to properly understand chapter six, verses four through six of Hosea, one must first look at the first three verses of chapter six. Verses one through three make up a distinct unit, and are identified as a song of repentance. These first three verses of chapter six respond to that which is written in Hosea chapter five verses ten through fifteen, where God announces His judgment upon Ephraim and Judah lest they repent. The people then respond in verse one of chapter six by saying, “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” (King James Version). This was a suggested commitment to repent; however their commitment was neither constant, nor was it pleasing to

Because of this, in the twelfth chapter of Genesis, God makes a covenant with Abraham, whereby God’s plan for redemption is to unfold. In the beginning of the Book of Exodus, the Israelites – God’s chosen people – have been forced into slavery by the Egyptians. God leads His people out of Egypt into the wilderness; it is there He makes yet another covenantal agreement with them. Doctor J. Daniel Hays summarizes this covenant, which was made in the wilderness, in a three-part statement on the behalf of God; “I will be your God; you will be my people; I will dwell in your midst.” The Book of Numbers tells of how God’s people refused the Promised Land, and therefore had to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Upon the death of the generation who refused to enter the Promised Land, the aforementioned covenant is reinstated – this is the Book of Deuteronomy – and Israel agrees to keep the law. The people are then led into the Promised Land, where, for the first generation, they remained faithful. The second generation rises up, and they soon begin to fall away. The Book of Judges records the theological and moral digression of God’s chosen people. First and Second Samuel record the reign of David (who upon his arrival to the throne restored the worship of God). However,

The idolatry of the people challenged the foundation of God’s relationship with them. Therefore, it was the prophet’s duty to proclaim their message theologically, in regards to God’s covenant, as is defined in the Book of Deuteronomy. According to Dr. J. Daniel Hays, the message of the prophets, of whom God refers in Hosea chapter six, verse four, is summarized: “You (Israel or Judah) have broken the covenant; therefore repent. If there is no repentance, then judgment will come on the nation. Yet there is hope beyond the judgment for a glorious future of restoration for both Israel/Judah and for the nations [of the world].” As previously mentioned, the duty of the prophets, to whom God refers in verse five, was to declare God’s intention to slay the people for their sins if they did not once again have a loyal love for God. This is that which God speaks of when He declared, “ . . . I have slain them by the words of my mouth . . .” By His declarations through the Old Testament prophets, God slew the sinful people whom He had chosen, and made a covenant