YHWH Makes Clear His Current View Of Israel And Judah Because Of Their Spiritual Bankruptcy (Hosea 6:4-6).
Hosea, in words of YHWH, now contrasts his future glowing picture of Israel's restoration with the current situation in Israel and Judah. Judah is now firmly included with Israel in the condemnation. This may well have been because many Judeans had attended the feasts at Bethel and fully participated in them, bringing home to Hosea the fact that while the worship at the Temple continued seemingly satisfactorily (until the time of Ahaz), the hearts of much of Judah were similar to the hearts of the people of Israel.
The contrasts with Hosea 6:1-3 should be noted. Whereas in Hosea 6:3 YHWH's coming work was as sure as the morning dawned after night time, here morning will for the current Ephraim and Judah be a false dawn in that like the morning mist and the dew their supposed covenant love quickly disappears. That is why, instead of mercy, YHWH's judgment will at present come on them as the sun which goes forth, because to Him response to the covenant and a true heart knowledge of God was more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices, and they have not yet repented. It is a warning to us today lest our worship too become an empty ritual.
Analysis of Hosea 6:4-6.
a ‘O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
a O Judah, what shall I do to you? (Hosea 6:4 a).
b For your covenant love is as a morning cloud,
b And as the dew which goes early away.' (Hosea 6:4 b).
c ‘Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets,
c I have slain them by the words of my mouth (Hosea 6:5 a).
b And my judgment will go forth as the light (sun) (Hosea 6:5 b).
a For I desire covenant love, and not sacrifice,
a And the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings (Hosea 6:6).
Note that in ‘a' YHWH looks with yearning upon His people, wondering what He can do with them (because of their failing covenant love) and in the parallel He explains why. It is because He wants covenant love more than their sacrifices, and a true knowledge of God rather that burnt offerings. In ‘b' their covenant love is like a rapidly disappearing morning mist, and in the parallel His judgment goes forth like the sun in its permanence. Centrally in ‘c' this is why He has spoken so harshly to them.