Hosea 5:15

‘I will go and return to my place,

Until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face.

In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.'

The thought of the lion going away to the shelter of his lair having torn his prey is now applied to YHWH's treatment of Israel. He too will go away, leaving Israel torn and bleeding and deserted, and return to His place (to Heaven). But it will only be ‘until they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face.' YHWH's aim was always repentance. The problem was that it would be a long time before Israel would repent. In the end, however, they will do so, for as a result of their long affliction in exile they will eventually seek Him earnestly. These words are a perfect build up to Hosea 6:1.