Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.
Come, let us return to the LORD
The phrase "Come, let us return" is an invitation to repentance and restoration. The Hebrew word for "return" is "shuv," which implies a turning back or a reversal of direction. This is a call to the Israelites to turn away from their idolatry and sin and to return to a covenant relationship with Yahweh. Historically, this reflects the cyclical pattern of Israel's faithfulness and unfaithfulness, where God continually calls His people back to Himself. The use of "us" indicates a communal call, emphasizing that repentance is not just an individual act but a collective movement towards God.

For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us
The imagery of being "torn to pieces" suggests a violent and painful experience, which in the Hebrew context can be likened to the tearing of a lion. This reflects the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the judgment that God has allowed to come upon them. However, the promise "He will heal us" reveals God's redemptive nature. The Hebrew word for "heal" is "rapha," which means to restore to health. This duality of judgment and healing underscores God's justice and mercy. It is a reminder that God's discipline is not meant to destroy but to bring about repentance and restoration.

He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds
The word "wounded" conveys the idea of being struck or afflicted, which can be seen as a metaphor for the suffering and exile experienced by Israel due to their sins. Yet, the assurance that "He will bind up our wounds" speaks to God's compassion and His role as a healer. The act of binding up wounds is a tender and careful process, indicating God's desire to mend what is broken. This reflects the biblical theme of God as a shepherd who cares for His flock, tending to their injuries and leading them to wholeness. The promise of healing and restoration is a testament to God's unfailing love and His commitment to His covenant people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hosea
A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Hosea's ministry focused on calling Israel back to faithfulness to God amidst widespread idolatry and moral decay.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, often depicted as unfaithful to God, which Hosea addresses, urging them to repent and return to the LORD.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who desires a relationship with His people and offers healing and restoration despite their unfaithfulness.
Teaching Points
Call to Repentance
Hosea 6:1 is a powerful call to repentance, urging believers to return to God wholeheartedly. It reminds us that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins and turning back to God.

God's Discipline and Healing
The verse highlights the dual nature of God's actions—He disciplines but also heals. This teaches us that God's discipline is not punitive but redemptive, aimed at bringing us back to Him.

Hope in Restoration
The promise of healing and binding up wounds offers hope. No matter how far we have strayed, God is willing and able to restore us if we return to Him.

Covenant Relationship
The call to return to the LORD underscores the importance of maintaining a covenant relationship with God, characterized by faithfulness and obedience.

Community Call
The use of "let us" indicates a communal call to repentance, suggesting that returning to God is not just an individual act but a collective responsibility.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "return to the LORD" in the context of your personal life and community?

2. How can understanding God's discipline as redemptive rather than punitive change your perspective on trials and challenges?

3. In what ways can you actively participate in the healing and restoration process that God offers?

4. How does the communal aspect of repentance in Hosea 6:1 challenge or encourage you in your faith journey?

5. Can you identify other instances in the Bible where God calls His people to return to Him, and what were the outcomes of those calls?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joel 2:12-13
This passage also calls for a return to the LORD with all one's heart, emphasizing God's gracious and compassionate nature.

Isaiah 57:18-19
These verses speak of God's healing and restoration, similar to the promise in Hosea 6:1.

Jeremiah 3:22
This verse invites the backsliding children of Israel to return, promising healing for their faithlessness.
God's Time for MercyJeremiah Burroughs.Hosea 6:1
He Hath Torn, and He Will Heal UsJ. Baldwin Brown, B. A.Hosea 6:1
Hope for a Bleeding ChurchT. Vasey.Hosea 6:1
Hope in God's MercyHosea 6:1
Luxury and EaseW. P. Lockhart.Hosea 6:1
Man's Highest Social ActionHomilistHosea 6:1
Man's Highest Social ActionD. Thomas Hosea 6:1
On Returning to the LordA. Rowland Hosea 6:1
Our Miseries, Messengers of MercyCharles Haddon Spurgeon Hosea 6:1
Signs of True PenitenceGeorge Hutcheson.Hosea 6:1
The Characteristic Marks of True PenitenceSkeletons of SermonsHosea 6:1
The Divine HealerJ.R. Thomson Hosea 6:1
Repentance and Saving KnowledgeC. Jerdan Hosea 6:1-3
Returning to GodJ. Orr Hosea 6:1-3
People
Adam, Haggai, Hosea
Places
Assyria, Gilead, Shechem
Topics
Bandage, Bind, Bindeth, Blows, Heal, Injured, Pieces, Return, Smite, Smitten, Stricken, Torn, Turn, Wounded, Wounds
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hosea 6:1

     5298   doctors
     5333   healing
     5346   injury
     6734   repentance, importance
     6740   returning to God

Hosea 6:1-2

     6606   access to God

Hosea 6:1-3

     6628   conversion, God's demand

Hosea 6:1-4

     6733   repentance, nature of

Library
Our Miseries, Messengers of Mercy
Three things I must do this morning; first, I must deal a blow, at the old Tempter, who has got the first hand at you; secondly, I will come to reason comfortably with you; and then, thirdly, I must lovingly persuade you, saying--"Come, let us return unto the Lord." I. First then, I must DEAL A BLOW AT THE OLD TEMPTER, WHO HAS GOT BEFORE ME AND HAS BEGUN TO DECEIVE YOU. I cannot tell what is the precise temptation that Satan has been using with you, but I think it is very likely to be one of four.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation,
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Limitations of Earth's Great Week.
We are well aware that in broaching this point we shall probably evoke the criticism of honored brethren and be charged with "setting a date" for the Return of our Lord. Nevertheless, we feel constrained to set down our honest convictions, only asking our readers to examine in the light of Holy Writ what we now advance tentatively and not dogmatically. In ancient times it was commonly held by Jewish rabbis before our Lord's first advent, and by many of the most eminent of the church fathers afterwards,
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Synagogue at Nazareth - Synagogue-Worship and Arrangements.
The stay in Cana, though we have no means of determining its length, was probably of only short duration. Perhaps the Sabbath of the same week already found Jesus in the Synagogue of Nazareth. We will not seek irreverently to lift the veil of sacred silence, which here, as elsewhere, the Gospel-narratives have laid over the Sanctuary of His inner Life. That silence is itself theopneustic, of Divine breathing and inspiration; it is more eloquent than any eloquence, a guarantee of the truthfulness
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

St Gregory the Great (Ad 540-604)
PART I Gregory was born at Rome, of a noble and wealthy family, in the year 540. In his youth he engaged in public business, and he rose to be proctor of Rome, which was one of the chief offices under the government. In this office he was much beloved and respected by the people. But about the age of thirty-five, a great change took place in his life. He resolved to forsake the pursuit of worldly honours, and spent all his wealth in founding seven monasteries. He gave up his family house at Rome
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Letter xv (Circa A. D. 1129) to Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin
To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin He praises the fatherly gentleness of Alvisus towards Godwin. He excuses himself, and asks pardon for having admitted him. To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin. [18] 1. May God render to you the same mercy which you have shown towards your holy son Godwin. I know that at the news of his death you showed yourself unmindful of old complaints, and remembering only your friendship for him, behaved with kindness, not resentment, and putting aside the character of judge, showed yourself
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Prayer.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRAYER. WHAT is prayer? A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God hath promised. The best prayers have often more groans than words. Alas, how few there be in the world whose heart and mouth in prayer shall go together. Dost thou, when thou askest for the Spirit, or faith, or love to God, to holiness, to saints, to the word, and the like, ask for them with love to them,
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

The Coming Revival
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"--PS. lxxxv. 6. "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years."--HAB. iii. 2. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thy right hand shall save me."--PS. cxxxviii. 7. "I dwell with him that is of a humble and contrite heart, to revive the heart of the contrite ones."--ISA. lvii. 15. "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us."--HOS. vi. 1, 2. The Coming
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
(Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 22-35. ^c 22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. [This verse probably refers back to verse 10, and indicates that Jesus resumed his journey after the brief rest on the Sabbath day when he healed the woman with the curvature of the spine.] 23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? [It is likely that this question was asked by a Jew, and that the two parables illustrating the smallness of the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished;
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
(Probably While on the Way from Jerusalem to Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 1-8; ^B Mark II. 23-28; ^C Luke VI. 1-5. ^b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went { ^b was going} on the { ^c a} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and his disciples were hungry and began ^b as they went, to pluck the ears. ^a and to eat, ^c and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. [This lesson fits in chronological order with the last, if the Bethesda
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Divine Calls.
"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel; Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for Thy servant heareth."--1 Samuel iii. 10. In the narrative of which these words form part, we have a remarkable instance of a Divine call, and the manner in which it is our duty to meet it. Samuel was from a child brought to the house of the Lord; and in due time he was called to a sacred office, and made a prophet. He was called, and he forthwith answered the call. God said, "Samuel,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Of the Nature of Regeneration, and Particularly of the Change it Produces in Men's Apprehensions.
2 COR. v. 17. 2 COR. v. 17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. THE knowledge of our true state in religion, is at once a matter of so great importance, and so great difficulty that, in order to obtain it, it is necessary we should have line upon line and precept upon precept. The plain discourse, which you before heard, was intended to lead you into it; and I question not but I then said enough to convince many, that they were
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

Job's Faith and Expectation
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand in the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. C hristianity, that is, the religion of which MESSIAH is the author and object, the foundation, life, and glory, though not altogether as old as creation, is nearly so. It is coeval [contemporary] with the first promise and intimation of mercy given to fallen man. When Adam, by transgression, had violated the order and law of
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Hosea
The book of Hosea divides naturally into two parts: i.-iii. and iv.-xiv., the former relatively clear and connected, the latter unusually disjointed and obscure. The difference is so unmistakable that i.-iii. have usually been assigned to the period before the death of Jeroboam II, and iv.-xiv. to the anarchic period which succeeded. Certainly Hosea's prophetic career began before the end of Jeroboam's reign, as he predicts the fall of the reigning dynasty, i. 4, which practically ended with Jeroboam's
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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