Oséias 6

Oséias 6

Boice - A convict was released from a Kansas prison after serving seven years for fraud. Upon his release he immediately acquired someone else's credit cards and went on a spending spree that took him across the state in first-class hotels, gourmet restaurants, and private planes. He was caught and brought to trial. In court the man confessed what he had done. But he asked the judge to pardon him on the ground that he had now learned his lesson. "It was wrong," he said. "I know that now, and I will never do anything like that again." The judge was unimpressed. He said, "I have learned that courtroom confessions last only until the criminal gets to the door." Then he committed the man to prison again. This story introduces the sixth and seventh chapters of Hosea's prophecy, for the repentance with which these chapters open is as ungenuine as the "about face" of this thief. Israel had rebelled against God and had suffered for it. A cry for repentance went out: "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds" (6:1). This call was probably voiced with great intensity and even conviction, but it was not genuine. (Boice Expositional Commentary - The Minor Prophets Vol. 1 p. 55). So while there is a call to Israel of Hosea's day, the primary fulfillment is when the future generation of Israel will return to Jehovah. So while this is a prophecy, at the time it was uttered, it was still a valid call by the prophet Hosea to the nation of Israel to repent, to turn from her many sins and to return to Jehovah, her "husband." (cf Jer 31:32, Isa 54:5). This was their only hope for revival. God would not revive an unrepentant people. Read the words in 2 Chr 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people (ISRAEL WAS ON THE VERGE OF REAPING WHAT SHE HAD SOWN), 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways (THAT IS CALLED REPENTANCE!), then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Recall the preceding context, the words in which God had just promised "I will go away and return to My place Until (until) they acknowledge their guilt (WOULD INCLUDE CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE) and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me." (Hos 5:15+) In that prophecy God promises that the nation of Israel will one day seek His face. That "national seeking" has not happened yet in Israel's history (individual Jews have repented yes, but never the majority of the nation). Indeed, instead of seeking God's face, they actually rejected His only Son, their (only) Redeemer, the Only Holy One Who could have set them free and healed them. The rejection of Jesus by the majority of the nation of Israel continues in our day (June, 2019) and will continue until the end of this present age when they are taken through the "Refiner's fire" (see Da 12:10+), the horrible three and one-half year Great Tribulation prophesied by Jesus (begins in Mt 24:15+, named in Mt 24:21+) which is synonymous with Jeremiah's Time of Jacob's Distress, (Jer 30:7) and Daniel's time of distress (Da 12:1+). It is at that time the Jews will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah (see comments on Zechariah 12:10-14+, Zechariah 13:1+, Romans 11:26-27+). Here are Leon Woods comments on the preceding passage (Hos 5:15) - “The language would appear to reach into the Millennium, when the Israelites will indeed repent before God and seek his face (cf. 1:10–11; 2:14–23).” Come, let us return to the LORD - Notice the "let us" so that Hosea himself is crying out to his people to return to Yahweh. As we know for history, Israel of Hosea's day did not return to the LORD. And so this is a call for national as well as personal repentance, revival and return. What a dramatic contrast with their prior behavior described in Hos 5:13+ where "Ephraim saw his (moral/ethical) sickness and Judah his wound" and instead of returning to Yahweh, they sought a cure for their spiritual sickness from the pagans, the idolatrous Assyrians who would soon sweep down on them and destroy them even as God prophesied in Hos 5:14+ declaring "For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver." The generation in Hosea's day had forgotten the truth about God that this future generation will remember... ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. (Dt 32:39) Jeremiah says "Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to You; For You are the LORD our God. (Jer 3:22) Alan Carr (Hosea 6:1-2 The Invitation To Contrition) - I would just remind us today that the Bible is a book filled with invitations. The first one is found in Gen. 7:1. In that verse God invites Noah and his family to come into the Ark for salvation from the flood. The last invitation is found in Rev. 22:20. In that verse John issues an invitation for the Lord to return quickly. I like both of those invitations. In fact, as I study the invitations I find throughout the Bible, I am discovering that I like them all....America needs a revival! She needs to be pulled back from the brink of disaster. But, before there will ever be a national revival in America, there must first be a revival within the churches of America. And, before there will be a revival in our churches, there must be revival in the hearts of individual believers. This passage is call for the people of God to humble themselves before God to seek His face for forgiveness and restoration. It is, in essence, an Invitation To Contrition. The word “ contrition” means “ sincere sorrow over sin, with a desire to repent of that sin.” It describes people who are broken hearted that they have wronged God. They are sorry for what they have done and they want to make things right with Him. It is a state of heart that God will honor, Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed (contrite; Lxx = tapeinos = humble) in spirit. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Isa 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. Henry Morris on return to the Lord - Following God's pronouncement in the preceding verse that He is awaiting Israel's confession and repentance, the prophet puts himself in the place of returning to Israel in the last days, prophetically anticipating her confession and resultant restoration. For He has torn us, but He will heal us - For is a term of explanation and is explaining why Israel was interested in returning to the Lord (at least as voiced by the prophet Hosea). Torn us alludes to the prophecy (Hos 5:14+) of God Himself like a lion tearing Israel and taking them away (into exile in Assyria). The Septuagint translates heal with the verb iaomai which literally speaks of deliverance from physical diseases and afflictions (Lk 22:51). The middle voice indicates God's personal involvement in the healing. This is significant because this same verb is used in the famous Messianic description in Isaiah 53:5 "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed (Hebrew = rapha; Lxx = iaomai)." Indeed Jehovah Rapha (the God Who Heals) is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Who heals us from our deadly infection of sin by being made sin for us (in our place), taking our place on the Cross, that we might die with Him (Ro 6:6, Gal 2:20), that we might live now and forevermore in Him and with Him. In this context Jesus Christ is the healer of Israel, (cf Zech 13:1+) He has wounded us, but He will bandage us - This is the confident certainty of a future generation of Israel who at the end of this age will have their centuries' long spiritual blindness cured so they can see their God and realize the truth of the words in Jeremiah 29 (which Christian's today often quote but too often forget the original application is to Israel at the end of this present age)... For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ (Jeremiah 29:11-14) Alan Carr applies this section - How many in this very room can remember a day when you were closer to the Lord than you are today? Can you remember a day when the things of God were more precious to your than they are now? Can you remember a time when His house, His Word, His business, and time spent with Him thrilled your soul far more than they do now? As I mentioned those six descriptive phrases God used to describe Israel, can you see parallels within your own life? Is your devotion to God shallow? Do you have a greater passion for sin than you do the things of God? Have you compromised with the world? Have you lost your power with the Lord? Are you like a silly dove flitting here and there looking for help in every source but the Lord? Are you like a deceitful bow that cannot be trusted to hit the target of righteous, faithful living? If you find yourself in that condition today, you know you are not where you need to be with the Lord. Like the people in the church in Ephesus, you have “ left your first love”, Rev. 2:1-7. You may be going through the motions, but your heart is not aflame with a passionate love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the things of God. You have allowed your soul to drift away from God and this is His call to you to come back to Him! If I were you, I would respond to Him by coming back home today! (Read full sermon where Carr emphasizes need for personal revival in the church - Hosea 6:1-2 The Invitation To Contrition) Hosea 6:2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. BGT Hosea 6:2 ὑγιάσει ἡμᾶς μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ ἀναστησόμεθα καὶ ζησόμεθα ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ NET Hosea 6:2 He will restore us in a very short time; he will heal us in a little while, so that we may live in his presence. LXE Hosea 6:2 After two days he will heal us: in the third day we shall arise, and live before him, and shall know him: NLT Hosea 6:2 In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. KJV Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. ESV Hosea 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. CSB Hosea 6:2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence. NIV Hosea 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. NKJ Hosea 6:2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. NRS Hosea 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. YLT Hosea 6:2 He doth revive us after two days, In the third day He doth raise us up, And we live before Him. NAB Hosea 6:2 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. NJB Hosea 6:2 after two days he will revive us, on the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his presence. GWN Hosea 6:2 After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence. BHT Hosea 6:2 yüHayyëºnû miyyömäºyim Bayyôm haššülîšî yüqìmëºnû wüniHyè lüpänäyw BBE Hosea 6:2 After two days he will give us life, and on the third day he will make us get up, and we will be living before him. WTT Hosea 6:2 יְחַיֵּנוּ מִיֹּמָיִם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי יְקִמֵנוּ וְנִחְיֶה לְפָנָיו revive us. Ho 13:14. Ezra 9:8. Ps 71:20, 80:18, 85:6. Is 26:19, 20. Hab 3:2. after two days. Ps 30:4, 5, 102:13, 16. 1 Co 15:4, 20. the third day. 2 Ki 20:5. Ps 90:4, 118:24. Is 24:22. Lk 13:32 2 Pe 3:8. Re 11:11 raise us up. Ezek 37:11-13. Da 12:2. Am 9:11, 14, 15. Lk 2:25. Ac 1:6, 3:19-21. we may live. Ge 17:18. Ps 61:7 Jn 14:19. Ro 14:8. before Him - in his sight. Ho 7:2. Jb 19:26. Is 24:23. Mt 19:28. 23:39. Lk 21:36. Jn 1:51 1 J 3:2. A PROPHECY OF FUTURE REVIVAL He will revive us after two days (cf Ezek 37:5+) - One might interpret this as a statement by the people of Israel in Hosea's day, but if so, they were clearly not sincere in their cry for revival. And the interpretation shifts to a future day when God will in fact revive the nation. Of course this time phrase makes it very tempting to associate the resurrection of the nation on "the third day" to the resurrection of Jesus on the third day and some commentaries do take this approach, but not all. In context, what Hosea is saying is that if Israel would repent, He would intervene quickly (2-3 days is not literal but depicts a short time). Does that preclude any application to the "third day" motif so frequently mentioned by Jesus? You be the judge on that one! MacArthur agrees that after two days is "Not a reference to the resurrection of Christ (illness, not death, is in the context), but to the quickness of healing and restoration (cf. the quickness with which the dry bones of Ezekiel 37+ respond). Numbers are used similarly elsewhere (e.g., Job 5:19; Pr 6:16; 30:15, 18; Am 1:3)." (MSB) NET Note says after two days "is an idiom meaning “after a short time” (see, e.g., Jdg 11:4; BDB 399 s.v. יוֹם 5.a)....“on the third day”...parallels after two days and means “in a little while.” The “2–3” sequence is an example of graded numerical parallelism (Pr 30:15–16, 18–19, 21–23, 24–28, 29–31). This expresses the unrepentant overconfidence of Israel that the LORD’s discipline of Israel would be relatively short and that he would restore them quickly." He will raise us up on the third day - (cf Ezek 37:11-13+) - If we read this as if Israel was expecting that God would revive them soon, which is one way it could be read, as Assyria's destruction of Israel proved, this prophetic declaration awaits a future fulfillment at the end of this age, if one accepts a literal interpretation of the Scripture. David A Hubbard comments - The duration mentioned is the period of time after which decomposition of the body sets in (cf. Jon. 2:1; John 11:39). The verbs revive us (cf. 1 Sam. 2:6), and raise us up (cf. Isa. 26:19) are frequent expressions for resuscitation and resurrection. Such language anticipates the clearer accounts of national resurrection after death in exile or through persecution found in Ezekiel chapter 37 and Daniel 12:1-2. Hosea 6:2 may have been part of what Paul alluded to in his resurrection argument (1 Cor. 15:4): ‘that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures’, although we have no direct record of apostolic or patristic use of this proof-text before Tertullian (Wolff, p. 118). If recovery from sickness not revival from death (so Wolff, p. 117) is the meaning, the time-frame seems trivial. A three-day illness, especially in antiquity, would have been no big thing. The consequence of the longed-for national resurrection is a life lived in Yahweh’s presence, where joy is available to the people (Ps. 16:11) and praise to Yahweh is their constant response (Pss 6:5; 30:9; 88:10-12). It is just possible that the first word of verse 3 should be attached to the end of verse 2 as a second statement of consequence: ‘and we shall know [him]’ (BHS; Andersen, p. 422). The clause would add a climax to verse 2 akin to that of 2:20. (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – Hosea) J Vernon McGee on the third day - “In the third day he will raise us up”—this is very interesting in light of the fact that the resurrection of Christ was on the third day. He was raised for the justification of both Jew and Gentile. This will also be applicable in that future day when God will bring Israel back into that land and bring them to Himself. In Ezekiel 37+ God speaks of that day as a resurrection, and that resurrection will be based on the One who was raised on the third day; for in Christ’s resurrection there is provided, for any man who will accept it, a redemption and a justification which will bring him into a right relationship with Almighty God. The apostle Paul develops the subject of the future of Israel in Romans 11. In our day, God’s purpose in building His church is to draw to Himself both Jew and Gentile, people out of every tongue and tribe and nation, who are going to come before Him to worship. When God completes His purpose in the church and takes it out of the world, He will again turn to the nation Israel and will raise her up. Every prophet who wrote in Scripture—and even some who didn’t write—spoke of God’s future purpose for the nation Israel. Even before the children of Israel could get into the land, Moses began to talk about the coming day when God would restore them back to the land for the third time. The third time—on the third day, so to speak—the restoration to the land would be a permanent restoration. There is a correlation between this restoration and Christ’s being raised from the dead on the third day. (Thru the Bible) Henry Morris on the third day - Two prophetic mysteries are suggested here. Jesus Christ, representing the true Israel in His death, was raised the third day. The earthly nation of Israel, seemingly "dead" as a nation for about two thousand years, will be raised for her thousand-year millennial reign when she returns to Messiah, and He to her at the end of this present age (Ezekiel 37:12-14). On the divine equation that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years" (2 Peter 3:8). (Defender's Study Bible) Cornerstone Bible Commentary on the third day - Hosea’s presentation of his assurance of God’s forgiveness and restoration of Israel is accompanied by the motif of the third day. From the beginning of Israel’s redemption, the third day plays an important part. God appeared to Israel on Mount Sinai on the third day (Exod 19:10–16). The third day was a day of crucial decision (1 Kgs 12:12; Esther 4:16; 5:1). It was also a day of healing and sacrifice (Lev 7:17–18; 19:6–7; Num 19:12, 19–20). Accordingly, it was a day fit for Hezekiah’s recovery (2 Kgs 20:8). The third day, of course, is also significant for the capstone of Jesus’ saving work. Jesus often told his disciples of a coming third day when, after his death, he would rise again (Matt 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Luke 9:22). And so it came to pass, for Christ was gloriously raised on the third day (Luke 24:21; 1 Cor 15:4). All along the way, it would seem, God was preparing people for the great climactic event: the granting of new life and the institution of a new covenant with believers through the death and resurrection of his Son and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. NET Note on revive (NET - "restore") - The Piel of חָיָה (khayah) may mean: (1) to keep/preserve persons alive from the threat of premature death (1 Kgs 20:31; Ezek 13:18; 18:27); (2) to restore the dead to physical life (Dt 32:39; 1 Sa 2:6; cf. NCV “will put new life in us”); or (3) to restore the dying back to life from the threat of death (Ps 71:20; BDB 311 s.v. חָיָה). That we may live before Him (cf Ezek 37:14+) - Why would God be willing to revive and restore a repentant people? Here is the answer - that they might live in His presence. This is the heart of God, for not just wayward Israel in Hosea's day, but for every son and daughter to live in His glorious presence, fellowshipping with Him, worshipping Him, serving Him. Is this indeed not what happens when any sinner repents and believes in Jesus? They enter into a covenant union with God, which admittedly is still hampered by our residual sin nature, the evil world system and the deceptive devil, and yet it is still a foretaste of a promised future day spoken of for example by Jude when he wrote... Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25+) Hosea 6:3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." BGT Hosea 6:3 καὶ γνωσόμεθα διώξομεν τοῦ γνῶναι τὸν κύριον ὡς ὄρθρον ἕτοιμον εὑρήσομεν αὐτόν καὶ ἥξει ὡς ὑετὸς ἡμῖν πρόιμος καὶ ὄψιμος τῇ γῇ NET Hosea 6:3 So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the LORD! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land." LXE Hosea 6:3 let us follow on to know the Lord: we shall find him ready as the morning, and he will come to us as the early and latter rain to the earth. NLT Hosea 6:3 Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." KJV Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. ESV Hosea 6:3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." CSB Hosea 6:3 Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. NIV Hosea 6:3 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, like the spring rains that water the earth." NKJ Hosea 6:3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. NRS Hosea 6:3 Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth." YLT Hosea 6:3 And we know -- we pursue to know Jehovah, As the dawn prepared is His going forth, And He cometh in as a shower to us, As gathered rain -- sprinkling earth.' NAB Hosea 6:3 Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth." NJB Hosea 6:3 Let us know, let us strive to know Yahweh; that he will come is as certain as the dawn. He will come to us like a shower, like the rain of springtime to the earth. GWN Hosea 6:3 Let's learn about the LORD. Let's get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground. BHT Hosea 6:3 wünëd`â nirDüpâ lädaº`at ´et-yhwh(´ädönäy) KüšaºHar näkôn mô|cä´ô wüyäbô´ kaGGeºšem läºnû Kümalqôš yôºrè ´äºrec BBE Hosea 6:3 And let us have knowledge, let us go after the knowledge of the Lord; his going out is certain as the dawn, his decisions go out like the light; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth. WTT Hosea 6:3 וְנֵדְעָה נִרְדְּפָה לָדַעַת אֶת־יְהוָה כְּשַׁחַר נָכוֹן מוֹצָאוֹ וְיָבוֹא כַגֶּשֶׁם לָנוּ כְּמַלְקוֹשׁ יוֹרֶה אָרֶץ So let us know. Ho 2:20. Is 54:13. Je 24:7. 31:34. Mi 4:2. Jn 17:3. if. Pr 2:1-5, 9. Mt 13:11, 12. Jn 7:17. 8:12, 31, 32. Ac 3:19-21. 17:11, 12. Ph 3:13-15. He 3:14. let us press on to know the LORD. Pr 23:12. Da 11:33. Mt 24:13. Lk 8:11-15. 22:31, 32. Jn 8:31. 15:9, 10. Ac 11:23. 14:22. Ro 2:7-9. Ga 4:11. 5:7. 6:9. Col 1:10. 1 Th 3:5. 2 P 3:18. His going forth. 2 S 23:4. Ps 19:4-10. Pr 4:18. Mi 5:2. Ml 4:2. Lk 1:78, 79. Jn 16:28. 2 P 1:19. Re 22:16. is as certain - prepared. or, sure, or fixed. Ge 41:32. Dt 13:14 (certain). 2 S 7:16, 26 (established). Ps 51:10, 57:7, 93:2. Pr 4:18 (perfect). Is 2:2. Mic 4:1. as the dawn. Ho 14:5. Ge 8:22. 2 S 23:3-5. Ps 30:5. 49:14. 90:14. 110:3. Je 31:35, 36. 33:25, 26. 2 P 1:19. And He will come to us. Ps 72:6. Zc 9:9. Mi 5:2. like the rain. Ho 10:12. 14:5. Dt 32:2. Jb 29:23. Ps 65:9. 72:6. Is 5:6. 32:15. 44:3. Ezk 36:25. Jl 2:23, 24. Mic 5:7. Zec 10:1. Like the spring rain former rain. or, as the latter rain sprinkling the earth. Dt 11:14 1 Ch 10:3 (archers). 2 Ch 35:23 (archers). Pr 26:18 (casteth). Je 5:24. JEHOVAH'S RESPONSE TO ISRAEL'S REPENTANCE This of course was not Jehovah's response in Hosea's time but will be His response in the future when the nation repents and returns. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD - Know is yada which speaks of intimate knowledge (and was used of a husband "knowing" his wife - Ge 4:1 "had relations" = literally "knew). This cry from Hosea (notice he says "us" so he includes himself) as discussed above could be interpreted as a cry to the nation of Israel in Hosea's day to seek to know God. Hosea's exhortation however was rejected by Israel. And so His cry echoes down the corridors of time (and applies to Gentiles as well as Jews, the latter being the primary recipients) and ultimately it awaits a future fulfillment. Indeed, when the prophecy of the New Covenant is fulfilled to Israel and Judah God says “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know (yada) the LORD,’ for they will all know (yada) Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jer 31:34+) Let us press on pictures one actively pursuing or chasing after the LORD. The Septuagint translates it with the verb dioko picturing a zealous pursuit, an earnest striving to know God (cf Paul's heart in Php 3:14+). Recall that Israel's failure to know Jehovah was a major component of God's controversy with Israel... Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. (Hos 4:1+) NET Note - Heb “let us pursue in order to know.” The Hebrew term רָדַף (radaf, “to pursue”) is used figuratively: “to aim to secure” (BDB 923 s.v. רָדַף 2). It describes the pursuit of a moral goal: “Do not pervert justice … nor accept a bribe … pursue [רָדַף] justice” (Deut 16:20); “those who pursue [רָדַף] righteousness and who seek [בָּקַשׁ, baqash] the LORD” (Isa 51:1); “He who pursues [רָדַף] righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor” (Prov 21:20); “Seek [בָּקַשׁ] peace and pursue [רָדַף] it” (Ps 34:15); “they slander me when I pursue [רָדַף] good” (Ps 38:21). His going forth is as certain as the dawn - How certain is it that the sun will arise this morning? That's how certain is God's going forth! The NET renders it "He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn." And He will come to us like the rain Like the spring rain watering the earth - Better rendered "as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land." (NET) or the NIV = "he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea is describing the well-known occurrence of the early and latter rains, the former occurring in the autumn/winter to soften the soil for later planting of seeds, and the latter rain in the spring enabling the seeds to germinate and produce crops. What is the simile (figure of speech) "like the rain" envisioning? refreshment, growth, life-giving, etc. This is what the presence of the Lord will be like when the nation of Israel returns to Him in the future, for then He would come to them (like the rain). God's coming like refreshing "rain" in the time of revival of Israel which is in marked contrast to His dealing with the sinful, unrepentant nation (north and south kingdoms) as a moth and rottenness in (Hos 5:12+). Richard Patterson applies this section to Christians - The emphasis in this passage on the crucial importance of knowing God intimately reminds believers that such a quest is continuously theirs. Paul declared that, by faith in the resurrected Christ, the believer can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead (Phil 3:10). He went on to point out, however, that this task consumes a lifetime. Accordingly, he remarked that his focus was on forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead—the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven (Phil 3:13b–14). May we therefore be “third-day Christians”—those who have put implicit faith in the One Who was crucified for our sins and raised on the third day (1 Cor 15:4) to make us right with God (Rom 4:25). All Christians may join in Paul’s journey to know God with ever increasing intimacy. For such is the opportunity available to them through the power of the resurrected Christ. In union with him they may live out the new life he has granted in all its fullness (Ro 6:4, 10–11; 1 Pet 2:24). (Cornerstone Bible Commentary) Warren