Signs of True Penitence
George Hutcheson. Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up. I. WHEREVER THERE IS TRUE REPENTANCE, THERE WILL BE A RETURNING UNTO THE LORD. 1. A true penitent will be sensible, not only of straying from God, which hath made a distance between God and him, but that his straying hath begotten an averseness, and turned his back upon God, so that he needs to return. 2. A penitent will have a deep sense, that all other courses he has essayed in his straying from God, are but vanity. II. THE ORDINARY FORERUNNER OF A TIME OF MERCY, IS THE LORD'S STIRRING UP HIS PEOPLE TO SEEK HIM. Here they are excited, and excite one another to this duty. "Come, and let us return," and this is their temper in a time of love. (George Hutcheson.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: "Come, and let us return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.