A MATTER OF PRIORITIES.
Hosea 6:4-6.
HOSEA 6:4. The two halves of this verse are two examples of parallelism.
First, the LORD laments over the two kingdoms of Israel: “Ephraim” in the north, and “Judah” in the south. The loving Father asks each in turn, “What shall I do unto you?” And we can almost hear the tears in His voice.
Second, the reason for the LORD’s exasperation (so to speak). “For your goodness is as a morning cloud; and as the early dew it goeth away.” The “goodness” of the tribes of the LORD is like the morning mist, which is gone as soon as the sun rises.
This is almost in answer to the previous verse, where Hosea had exhorted the people of God to ‘know’ Him, and to grow in the knowledge of Him because ‘His going forth is as the morning’ (cf. Hosea 6:3). His going forth is as certain as the sun rising, but their returning to Him is as fleeting as the morning dew!
HOSEA 6:5ab. “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth.” Another example of parallelism.
This is not an uncontrolled outburst of anger, but the LORD has warned His people by the prophets, and chastened them by the words of His mouth. The patience of the LORD gives time and opportunity to repent (cf. 2 Peter 3:9).
HOSEA 6:5c. “Thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.”
“Thy judgments,” or “thy justice” foresees a time when the people will be ready to return to a right way of thinking (which is what repentance is all about). And at such a time, it shall no longer be fleeting like a cloud (cf. Hosea 6:4b), but “shall be as the light that goeth forth.”
HOSEA 6:6. “For I desired mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
I call this holy exaggeration. The problem is that people will sooner busy themselves with albeit God-given ritual than attend to their other responsibilities.
These words are taken up by Jesus in His corrective ministry towards the Pharisees (cf. Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7).
It is a matter of priorities: ‘To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice’ (cf. Proverbs 21:3). ‘Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams’ (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22).
