Hosea’s Exasperation
The change of mood between vv 3-4 reveals something of Hosea’s frustration and may perhaps be a reflection of what he imagines Yahweh’s feelings to be for Israel. One approach is to imagine the stages Hosea goes through and try to walk in his shoes. First, on the surface, there is hurt and disappointment in a loving relationship which he would love to overcome by cool rationality. ‘Surely we can sort this out!’ But then unfortunately the feeling is short-lived as his irritation boils up (vv 5-6) and judgement takes over (v 6). It is the rationality of many a loving parent which nevertheless too often breaks down before the instability or indeed the constant rebellion of a recalcitrant adolescent.
Yet even in moments of the coolest rationality to what extent are any of us really being rational? Or are we retreating into ‘rationality’ to escape from an impossible situation by harbouring expectations which, though reasonable, may be totally inappropriate if not unrealistic? If, as seems to be the case (vv 7-10), the ruling elite and the people have created a society in which wickedness no longer seems to matter (with robbery on the streets involving the priests as much as anybody else or a priesthood up to its neck in greed as much as street robbers), and if the official line seems to be that there is nothing here that cannot be put right by a few religious rites and ceremonies (sacrifice and burnt offerings v 6) then maybe they have to understand that something much more radical is called for.
In that mood Hosea clears his mind. What Yahweh is looking for is what Yahweh has already given — steadfast love (v 6). Hesed is a difficult word to translate — sometimes ‘lovingkindness’, sometimes ‘tender mercy’. Consulting a variety of translations is the first step to plumbing its depth but it may be more helpful simply to remember that it is a word which sums up everything God is prepared to do for us and and in return he longs for nothing less from us.