Matthew Henry Commentary Hosea 6:1-3

"Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth." — Hosea 6:1-3 (ASV)

Those who have gone from God by consent, and as a group, drawing one another to sin, should, by consent and as a group, return to Him. This will be for His glory and their good. It will be of great use for support under afflictions, and to encourage our repentance, to maintain good thoughts of God, and of His purposes and designs concerning us. Deliverance from trouble should be to them like life from the dead.

God will revive them; the assurance of this should encourage them to return to Him. But this seems to have a further reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us admire the wisdom and goodness of God, that when the prophet foretold the deliverance of the church from her troubles, he was also to point out our salvation by Christ. And now that these words are fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, it confirms our faith that this is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. Here a precious blessing is promised: this is eternal life, to know God.

The return of God's favor is secured to us as firmly as the return of the morning after a dark night. He will come to us as the latter and former rain upon the earth, which refreshes it and makes it fruitful. The grace of God in Christ is both the latter and the former rain; and by it the good work of our fruit-bearing is begun and carried on. And as the Redeemer was raised from the grave, so He will revive the hearts and hopes of all who trust in Him.

The feeblest glimpse of hope in His word is a sure pledge of increasing light and comfort, which will be accompanied by purifying, comforting grace that makes fruitful.