Hosea 2:15-16

VINEYARDS IN THE WILDERNESS

‘I will give her her vineyards from thence.’

Hosea 2:15

I. Observe the author of these favours.—‘ I will do it,’ says God. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from Him. And His people will readily acknowledge that all they enjoy is not only from His agency, but His grace.

II. Observe also the richness of the supply.—I will give her—not her corn; corn is for necessity; but grapes—grapes are for delight. Yea, it is not a vine—but a vineyard; yea, vineyards! He engages to give, as if He could not do too much for them; being concerned, not only for their safety, but for their welfare—not only for their relief, but their enjoyment—and not only for their tasting His consolation, but their being filled with all joy and peace in believing.

III. Observe also the strangeness of the way in which these indulgences are to be communicated.—For whence are these supplies to come? From a wilderness. What could be looked for in a wilderness but loneliness, and mazes, and danger, and beasts of prey, and reptiles, and sand, and briers, and thorns? Earth is a wilderness. And He gives them their vineyards from thence. It was not designed to be a wilderness. Such it is as the Fall left it. Such it now would be, but for Divine grace. How discontented and miserable are the men of the world, who have nothing else! especially in their afflictions—and man is born to trouble. But to the Christian, the curse is turned into a blessing.

Solitude is a wilderness. And He gives them their vineyards from thence. There is not only much to be done alone, but gained alone, and enjoyed alone. There we gain much of our best knowledge, and our richest experience.

Outward trouble is a wilderness. Many have been afraid to be brought into it; yet He has given them their vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope.

The state of mind produced by conviction of sin is a wilderness. ‘A wounded spirit who can bear?’ But Christians hail it as a token for good. They know that He gave them their vineyards from thence.

The valley of the shadow of death is the last wilderness. There is much to render it uninviting and awful; and yet, when it has been actually entered, the apprehension and the gloom have fled. And what vineyard does He give them from thence!