CRITICAL NOTES.] The guilt of the sinful nation and the punishment awaiting have been described: now there is a call to conversion, and a promise that God will bless abundantly. HOSEA 14:1. RETURN] Heb. intensive, expressing strong desire. UNTO] Lit. _up to_, not merely _towards_ the Lord. “Great i... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] HOSEA 14:4.] Promise of mercy follows. First heal all injury caused by apostasy. FREELY] Gratuitously and with perfect spontaneity (Ezekiel 16:60). “The word means _impelled_ thereto by Himself alone, and so moved by His own essential bountifulness, the exceeding greatness of His g... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] HOSEA 14:5.] This love will be manifest in great blessings. DEW] Not the early, but constant, refreshing, and enlivening dew (ch. Hosea 6:3; Proverbs 19:12; Job 29:19; Isaiah 26:19); thro which Israel will grow splendidly, deeply root itself, and spread abundantly. LILY] A beautifu... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] HOSEA 14:8.] God speaks now. IDOLS] Eph., I have no longer to plead with thee, on account of idols. I have nothing more to do with them, and thou hast not. I have answered and OBSERVED him, _i.e._ answered and cared for him, when idols did not. I am like A GREEN FIR, green winter a... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.] HOSEA 14:9.] A most important concluding lesson. WISE] Those who are not, cavil at God’s word, and his providence to them is a complete riddle. The PRUDENT—“properly gifted with understanding, the form of the word expressing that he was _endowed with_ this understanding, as a gift o... [ Continue Reading ]