‘When Israel was a child, then I loved him, And called my son out of Egypt.' With these beautiful words God describes His relationship with His chosen people as one of sovereign love. Out of His love for them He had called Israel as His son out of Egypt where they were in slavery. Compare Exodus 4... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH DESCRIBES HOW HE HAD CALLED HIS SON (ISRAEL) OUT OF EGYPT AND WATCHED OVER HIM AS A FAITHFUL FATHER, TRAINING HIM IN THE RIGHT WAY, ONLY FOR HIS SON'S HEART TO REMAIN IN EGYPT SO THAT HE WOULD INEVITABLY RETURN THERE AGAIN. NEVERTHELESS GOD PROMISES THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE THEM UP, AND THAT ONE D... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The more they called them, The more they went from them, They sacrificed to the Baalim, And burned incense to graven images.' But it is made clear that Israel in fact never came out of Egypt in their hearts, for the more that ‘they' (the prophets) called them the more they deserted what they ha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Yet I taught Ephraim to walk, I took them on my arms, But they knew not that I healed them.' Yet in a touching picture God describes how He had ‘taught Ephraim (Israel) to walk' (through the covenant) and how He had upheld them in His arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), or alternatively had grasped them b... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I drew them with cords of a man, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who lift up the yoke on their jaws, And I laid food before them.' And in spite of their misbehaviour YHWH had not deserted them. He had drawn them along in their leading reins, bands which bound them to Him in love,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Will they not return into the land of Egypt? And Assyria be their king? Because they refused to return to me?' But having failed to recognise that it was He Who had healed them (Hosea 11:3), they had refused to return to Him. Their hearts had remained in Egypt. Thus the inevitable consequence was... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sword will fall on their cities, And will consume their bars, And devour, Because of their own counsels.' So because of their refusal to respond wholly to Him the sword would fall on their cities, and the bars on their gates would be ‘consumed' (broken) so that the gates were no longer s... [ Continue Reading ]
And my people are bent on backsliding from me, Though they call them to on high, None at all will exalt him.' This was all necessary and certain because of the fact was that the people were intent on backsliding from YHWH. Their hearts were set against Him. They might give the impression of calli... [ Continue Reading ]
‘How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I cast you off, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah? How shall I set you as Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, My compassions are kindled together.' YHWH's response is a cry from the heart. How could He give up Ephraim, how could He cast off Is... [ Continue Reading ]
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in the midst of you, And I will not come in wrath.' Thus while He would chastise them severely He would limit the way in which the fierceness of His anger was exercised.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘They will walk after YHWH, Who will roar like a lion, For he will roar, And the children will come trembling from the west.' For when the time came for Him to act in mercy He would roar like a lion, so that Ephraim would walk after YHWH. His roaring would cause them to respond to the covenant w... [ Continue Reading ]
They will come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Assyria, And I will make them to dwell in their houses, Say YHWH.' Responding in reverent fear His people will come ‘like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria. This may have in mind the do... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Ephraim compasses me about with falsehood, And the house of Israel with deceit, But Judah yet rules with God, And is faithful with the Holy One. These words suggest that Hosea was now aware of the reforms of Hezekiah in Judah (see Hosea 1:1 and 2 Kings 18:1) and saw in them an indication that I... [ Continue Reading ]