_O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God._
MAN’S EVIL ESTATE, AND HOPE OF DELIVERANCE
While the freeness of God’s mercy is the leading idea suggested by
the text, it is not the only one: the condition of our nature is
accurately expressed, as is the mode by which alone it can be
ameliorated.
I. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take with you words, and turn to the Lord._
TURNING TO GOD IN PRAYER
This passage teaches us how we are to come back to God. “Take with
you words and turn.” We are to come in prayer to God. We are to come
in supplication, to come and acknowledge that we have nothing, and
with an entreaty that He... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asshur shall not save us._
GIVING UP OUR VAIN CONFIDENCES
It is a great point of wisdom to take advantages with the stream of
our temper to praise God. It is one branch of redeeming the time, to
observe what state and temper of soul we are in, and to take advantage
from thence. Add some encouragem... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will heal their backsliding._
THE AWFUL STALE OF BACKSLIDERS
In the history of the Israelites there is no feature more striking
than their frequent rebellions and backslidings. It is amazing to
think that a nation which had witnessed such signal interposition of
the Divine power in their behalf... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will be as the dew unto Israel._
DIVINE RELATIONSHIP AND HUMAN RESPONSIVENESS
Through the picturesque forms and utterances of Hebrew prophecy there
breaks a very deep and generous sympathy with the world of nature. For
Israel itself, fallen and debased by grievous backslidings, smitten as
with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with idols._
JOINED TO IDOLS
Compare this account of Ephraim with that given in Hosea 4:17. How is
this surprising Change to he accounted for?
I. A sinner in his natural state is joined to idols. Herein consisteth
the essence of man’s apostasy. Somet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?_
WHO IS WISE
There must be prudence and wisdom before we can understand Divine
truths; there must be an illumination within. A man may know whether
he be prudent and wise by his relishing of Divine truths, for
otherwise he is not wise and prudent... [ Continue Reading ]