Book of Hosea Chapter 6 Vs. 3

 Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

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. Hos. 6:3

Then shall we... Then (after the three days of national mourning and repentance, and after being raised up to live in His sight) we will know (continue to know), if we follow on to know (if we walk in the light, Hos. 6:2).

his going forth... This refers to the definite preparation and time of the second coming of Christ in the plan of God. His coming is fixed as surely as the morning is eternally fixed to come at a certain time daily (Gen. 1:14-19; 8:22). His coming to save and bless Israel will be like refreshing rains after a long dry season—even as the latter and former rain upon the earth.

He shall come... God will no longer deal with Israel like a moth and rottenness (5:12). Instead, He will deal with them like life-giving and refreshing rain.

and former rain... The former rain fell in October at the seed time; the latter or spring rain fell in March and April to cause the grain to mature and ripen. One came at the beginning and the other at the end (or harvest time) of good things; so in the spiritual realm, God would come down upon Israel to make a complete harvest of the nation (Zec. 10:1; Zec. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 1:25-29). The former and the latter rain are speaking of a time when the Spirit of God falls on the people of the earth like rain.

Acts 2:17 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"

Jas. 5:7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

Col. 1:28 "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

Col.1:9 " For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;"

Joel 2:23 "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month]."

This is a call to the study of God and His Word. The way to know the LORD is to diligently study His Word.

Let us know, let us follow up to know, Jehovah:

As soon as we seek Him, we shall find Him

And He shall come to us like the winter-rain,

Like the spring-rain, pouring on the land!

The Lord will surely respond favorably to such loyalty. His emergence from His hiding place (cf. Hos. 5:6, 5:15) will be as certain as the sunrise. He will pour out His blessings on His people, as the winter and spring rains… water the earth and assure agricultural prosperity. The latter comparison was especially well chosen since the regularity of these rains was a sign of the Lord’s favor (cf. Deut. 11:13-15).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 20

 The Abomination of Desolation

Matthew 24:20 “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:”

But pray ye... Pray that the invasion will not take place in winter as it would be difficult to flee without preparation at this time; nor on the sabbath, because orthodox Jews hold it unlawful to travel more than a mile on that day (Acts 1:12), so would be overtaken by the invaders. When days are short, and unfit for long journeys. And roads are bad, and sometimes not passable, through large snows, or floods of water; and when to dwell in desert places, and lodge in mountains, would be very uncomfortable.

Therefore, Christ directs to pray to God, who has the disposal of all events, and of the timing of them, that he would so order things in the course of his providence, that their flight might not be in such a season of the year, when traveling would be very difficult and troublesome.

neither on the... For the Jews thought it unlawful to walk above two thousand paces (one mile) on the Sabbath day.

So far we have found the leading ideas to be simple and practical, and all connected with the destruction of Jerusalem.

1. Do not expect that event too early; for you must pass through many trials and do much work before it.

2. As soon as you shall see the sign I give you, expect it immediately, and lose no time in making your escape from the horrors of these awful days.

Ever, the winter’s cold must be faced, if life were to be saved; and the flight must be farther than could be covered on a Sabbath day, that is, according to Jewish law, no more than a mile.

He encouraged people to pray that their escape would not have to be in the winter when it would be difficult or on the Sabbath when travel would be limited.

Book of Hosea Chapter 6 Vs. 2

 Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Hos. 6:2

After two days... This should be taken literally. It gives the time that the mourning of Zec. 12:10-13:1 will take place. On the third day after two full days of mourning God will open to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a fountain for sin and uncleanness—so all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:25-29).

we shall live... Live again in eternal life and resurrection from death in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-10). Not a reference to the resurrection of Christ (illness, not death, is in the context), but to the quickness of healing and restoration (compare the quickness with which the dry bones of Eze. Chapter 37 respond). Numbers are used similarly elsewhere (e.g., Job 5:19; Pro. 6:16; 30:15, 18; Amos 1:3).

in his sight... We will live righteously in His sight, as we lived before in sins in His sight (Hos. 7:2).

When the sun seems to dip below the horizon, we begin to travel toward its rising again. Then we follow on, to behold the glorious dawn of the next day, which is prepared for us.

The equivalent expressions, after two days and on the third day, refer to a short period of time, indicating they expected the revival to occur soon. Israel will also resolve to acknowledge the Lord’s authority (contrast Hos. 4:1, 4:6; 5:4). Press on is literally, pursue or chase, which suggests the intensity of Israel’s newfound devotion.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 19

 The Abomination of Desolation

Matthew 24:19 “And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”

And woe unto... It will be hard on women with children or those great with child to flee before the swiftness of the invaders. Not that it should be criminal for them to be with child, or a judgment on them; for it was always esteemed a blessing to be fruitful and bear children: but this expresses the miserable circumstances that one would be in, who, by reason of their heavy burdens, would not be able to make so speedy a flight. As the case would require; or would be obliged to stay at home, and endure all the miseries of the siege.

So that these words, as the following are not expressive of sin, or punishment, but of pity and concern for their misery and distress: and to them that give suck in those days. Whose tender affection to their infants will not suffer them to leave them behind them. And yet such their weakness, that they will not be able to carry them with them. At least, they must be great hindrances to their speedy flight.

The time following this event will be a time of great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world… and never to be equaled again (Jer. 30:7). The awful character of the Tribulation period cannot be truly grasped by anyone. This was why Jesus pointed out how difficult the time would be for pregnant women and nursing mothers (Mat. 24:19).

Book of Hosea Chapter 6 Vs. 1

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

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. Hos. 6:1

Come and let... The 8th prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 6:1-3, unfulfilled). Next, Hos. 7:12.

Seven Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. He will heal us (Hos. 6:1).

2. He will bind us up.

3. After two days will He revive us (Hos. 6:2).

4. In the third day He will raise us up.

5. We will live in His sight.

6. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord (Hos. 6:3).

7. He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

us return unto... These are to be the words of Israel in the last days, as already symbolized by Gomer (Hos. 3:2-3) and foretold in Hos. 3:5 (cp. Zec. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:25-29). We shall live in his sight, the prophet vicariously leads his people in a prayer of repentance and a plea for restoration that can ultimately take place only in the day when Israel as a nation will be converted (Jer. 31:31-34), and God will set up His kingdom over His people and reign for a thousand years.

This is speaking as if their captivity has already taken place. It is the same God that tore them, who will forgive them and cause them to begin again. God chastises His people as a loving parent. He is also full of grace and love for the very same people. God is our Judge, but He is also our Redeemer.

LET US RETURN UNTO THE LORD

How full Scripture is of tender invitations, Come, and let us return! This opening verse is closely connected with Hos. 5:15. The hand that smote was the Father’s who waited to welcome the prodigal nation with healing and up-binding.

Their shallow hearts need deepening. Have they not been deepened enough? Wherefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgment goeth forth like the lightning. For real love have I desired, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

These verses record the words the penitent generation of the future will declare as they seek the Lord. The message is constructed in two cycles, each containing an exhortation (Hos. 6:1, 6:3) and a motivating promise (Hos. 6:1-2, 6:3).

In contrast with her past folly (cf. Hos. 5:13), Israel will turn to the Lord as her source of healing and life (cf. Deut. 32:39). Assyria was not able to cure Israel (Hos. 5:13), but the Lord is able, even though like a lion (Hos. 5:14) He had torn them to pieces.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 18

 The Abomination of Desolation

Matthew 24:18 “Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”

return back to... His clothes which, in working, he had laid aside, or which, in fleeing, he should throw off as an encumbrance. Clothes here means the outer garment, commonly laid aside when men worked or ran.

These directions were followed as it is said that the Christians, warned by these predictions, fled from Jerusalem to Pella, and other places beyond the Jordan; so that there is no evidence that a single “Christian” perished in Jerusalem (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., lib. 3 chapter 6).

Those in the field, were not to return for personal items, but were to flee for their lives. This is an emergency situation probably, like it would be in the large cities, if a tornado or bomb alert were to go off. The main idea is to get away as fast as they can, not worrying about anything left behind.

No returning from the field for possessions, not even for a cloak. The time following this event will be a time of great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world… and never to be equaled again (Jer. 30:7). The awful character of the Tribulation period cannot be truly grasped by anyone.

Book of Hosea Chapter 5 Vs. 15

 Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Hos. 5:15

I will go... Tenderness blends with judgment, and insulted love bleeds and hopes. The image of the lion is dropped. Jehovah speaks of His own place, Heaven. He will cause all manifestations of His regard for them to cease till they suffer punishment, and seek my face, and, like the prodigal in the flush of a new morning, will arise and go unto the Father.

till they acknowledge... Till they confess and humble themselves for their sins. Their offence, and seek my face, God said He would return to His place till both houses of Israel would acknowledge their sins and seek Him (Zec. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:25-29).

and seek my... Me their God, my mercy, and my law; their Sovereign as well as Savior.

in their affliction... In deep distresses they will, at least some will, seek me diligently, as indeed they did at the end of Judah’s seventy years’ captivity.

This speaks of the time being extended for their captivity. The lion tears at its victim and then carries it away. The lion then goes to his den and rests. This is also, what this is speaking of here. God will allow all of these terrible things to happen to them.

they will seek...He will not intervene and stop it, as He has in the past. It is such a shame that they have to be in such destitute condition, before they reach out to God. The captivity is to cause them to repent and turn back to God. God will not seek them, they must seek Him. Because of the great affliction, they will seek God sooner than they would, had they not suffered so greatly.

REPENTANCE FALLS

Seeing that their leaders are so helpless, and feeling their wounds, the people may themselves turn to God for healing, but that will be with a repentance so shallow as also to be futile. They have no conviction of sin, nor appreciation of how deeply their evils have eaten.

This too facile repentance is expressed in a prayer which the Christian Church has paraphrased into one of its most beautiful hymns of conversion. Yet the introduction to this prayer, and its own easy assurance of how soon God will heal the wounds He has made, as well as the impatience with which God receives it, oblige us to take the prayer in another sense than the hymn which has been derived from it. It offers but one more symptom of the optimism of this light-hearted people, whom no discipline and no judgment can impress with the reality of their incurable decay. They said of themselves, The bricks are fallen, let us build with stones, and now they say just as easily and airily of their God, He hath torn only that He may heal: we are fallen, but He will raise us up again in a day or two. At first it is still God who speaks.

I am going My way, I am returning to My own place, until they feel their guilt and seek My face. When trouble comes upon them, they will soon enough seek Me, saying:-

Come and let us return to Jehovah;

For He hath rent, that He may heal us,

And hath wounded, that He may bind us up.

He will bring us to life in a couple of days;

On the third day He will raise us up again,

That we may live in His presence.

Let us know, let us follow up to know, Jehovah:

As soon as we seek Him, we shall find Him

And He shall come to us like the winter-rain,

Like the spring-rain, pouring on the land!

But how is this fair prayer received by God? With incredulity, with impatience. What can I make of thee, Ephraim? what can I make of thee, Judah? since your love is like the morning cloud and like the dew so early gone. Their shallow hearts need deepening. Have they not been deepened enough? Wherefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgment goeth forth like the lightning. For real love have I desired, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Israel’s Restoration Envisioned

The ultimate purpose of the Lord’s judgment on His people was to restore them (cf. Hos. 2:5-7). Having received the just punishment for their sins, God’s people would turn to Him in repentance. The Hebrew word rendered they admit their guilt should be translated they bear [their] punishment (cf. its use in Hos. 10:2; 13:16). God would not hear their prayers. He would go back to His place like a lion returning to its lair (cf. Hos. 5:14) till the nation underwent its punishment. In contrast with their earlier hypocritical quest for the Lord through sacrificial ritual (cf. Hos. 5:6), the people will genuinely and earnestly seek Him.