What does Israel believe God will do after punishing them in Hosea 6:1?
Israel believes that after the LORD has torn and smitten them in punishment, He will heal them and bind up their wounds. In Hosea 6:1 they call the nation to return to the LORD, trusting that the same God who chastised them will restore them.
Les explains that Hosea 6:1 is Israel speaking prophetically. He notes that God had been chastising Israel for almost two thousand years, having torn and smitten them, but Israel knows He will heal and bind them up. This follows Hosea 5:15, where Christ says He will go and return to His place until Israel acknowledges their offense of crucifying Him and seeks His face; in their affliction they will seek Him early. Les says Israel is getting closer and is beginning to long for the coming of their Messiah, though they do not realize He has already been here and left. Hosea 6 shows prophetically that this is exactly what has happened.
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.
More Questions
What do 'He hath torn' and 'He hath smitten' mean in Hosea 6:1?
In Hosea 6:1, the tearing and smiting are God's chastisement and punishment of Israel for almost two thousand years, but Israel knows God will heal them and bind them up.
What does it mean in Hosea 6:1 that God had torn and smitten Israel?
In Hosea 6:1, God's tearing and smiting of Israel means He had chastised and disciplined them.