Torn Up
The prophet Hosea was appointed by God to speak His words to the wayward and unrepentant kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Some of Hosea's prophetic ministry is captured in the book of Hosea, found in the Old Testament Bible.
The sixth chapter of Hosea begins with an admonishment. "Come, let us return to the Lord." The prophet's appeal to the Jews is for repentance. It is time to turn away from sin and turn back to God. This admonishment is followed by what some may consider a very harsh proclamation. The prophet states, "He [God] has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has injured us, but He will bind up our wounds." (Hosea 6:1)
Never forget that the Lord loves you. The pain of discipline can be healed in His arms.
This verse appears to present a God who inflicts pain and injury only to heal the wounds caused by the affliction. It is most definitely an unappealing view of God, not that dissimilar from the mythological Greek and Roman gods, whose favorite pastime was making human life hell on earth. But to come away with the conclusion that God is an omnipotent tyrant toying with His creation like a 2-year-old with her babydoll is to miss the point of the prophetic word entirely.
Heed the words of the following verse of Hosea, "After two days He [God] will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence." (Hosea 6:2) It is interesting that the prophet gives a timeline in this verse. To what could he be referring to within a three-day window? Hosea cannot be referring to the exile of the Jewish people in Babylon. The timeframe provided needed to be longer. For the same reason, Hosea was not speaking of the restoration of modern-day Israel as a nation, which did not occur until 1948.
The event prophesied about was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Savior of the world, including the Jewish people, was buried in a tomb, and on the third day, He arose. Following verse one of Hosea, where God appears to be a maniacal tyrant, we have verse two displaying God's spectacular love and the gift of His one and only Son to die and rise again for our salvation so that we "may live in His presence."
If you were raised by parents who loved you, you likely experienced times of being "torn up." There were likely times when you chose to oppose, rather than follow, their commands, even though they intended to keep you safe and alive. In these times, you probably experienced a loving correction that left you in a crying heap on the ground. Hosea's message is delivered in just such a time.
Take note, Christian, God does not punish for amusement. He does not discipline so that He can bind up wounds afterward. God's instruction is on purpose, and His discipline is intended to bring about what is in your best interest. Our God is a loving Father. He guides and directs, and yes, at times, He tears us up to get our attention and lead us to the path of righteousness. If you believe that God is disciplining you, take heed. Follow His instructions and obey His commands. God is loving, and He is just. He is also persistent.