Hosea 12:6

Turn thou. Because of God’s inherently righteous character and His faithful attitude toward Jacob and his descendants, this is a call to repentance and trust. The proof of sincerity in heeding this appeal is to be demonstrated, first toward their fellows, by keeping “mercy and judgment”; second, toward God, by waiting on Him continually. The literal rendering of the Hebrew of this first clause makes it most expressive: “And thou [emphatic] in thy God shall return.” This brings out the fundamental fact that in our weak and helpless condition, only by God’s help can we develop the characters we ought to possess (see John 15:4, 5). We may have the will to return to God, and that is good; but it is not good enough unless our will yokes up with the will and power of God to make our purpose effective (see Rom. 7:18-20; Phil. 2:12, 13; Heb. 13:20, 21). These words, “Turn thou to thy God,” are the grand and sublime call of the gospel for all men in all times (see Acts 2:37, 38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30). Mercy. Heb. chesed (see Additional Note on Psalm 36). This appeal for brotherly love and equity was one of the points the prophets emphasized (see Jer. 22:3; Micah 6:8). Wait. If Israel would do this, they would rest in security and not be afraid of their enemies (see Isa. 30:15; 32:17). We must wait on God because of our need of Him amid the dangers that surround us, for in Him is the only source of strength and sufficiency. Waiting on God, then, denotes waiting on Him in expectation and hope, trusting in Him for help, looking to Him for deliverance (see Ps. 27:14; 40:1-3).