Hosea 11:7

And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him].

Ver. 7. My people are bent to backsliding from me] They have a principle of apostasy in them, as those Galatians had of whom the apostle, "I marvel that you are so soon removed unto another gospel," Galatians 1:6, and as those old apostates in the wilderness, who, as soon as Moses' back was turned almost, cried out to Aaron, Make us golden gods. This people was before accused to be acted by a spirit of fornication, a certain violent impetus, a strong inclination to whoredom, and to be apt to backslide with a perpetual backsliding: all their recidivations and revolts were but a fruit of the bent of their spirits, which were false and unsettled; not resolved whether yet to turn to God, though they were beset with so many mischiefs; they hanged in suspense, and rather inclined to the negative than else. Suspensi sunt, so Calvin, Pareus, and others read this text. My people are in suspense, or in a mamering whether to turn to me or not; they hang in doubt, as the same word is rendered, Deuteronomy 28:66. God liketh not that his people should stand doubtful as sceptics, and adhere to nothing certainly; to be in religion as idle beggars are in their way, ready to go which way soever the staff falleth; but that they should strive to a full assurance in what they believe, Luke 1:4, to be fully persuaded, as Luke 1:1, and to a firm purpose of heart in what they should practise, Acts 11:23. Irresolution against sin or for God can hardly consist with the power of godliness: be not off and on with him, halt not, hang not in doubt what to do, but follow God fully as Caleb did; come off freely as David, who had chosen God's precepts when he was solicited to have done otherwise, Psalms 119:173. And again, "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me," Psalms 119:30. I have weighed them, and am resolved to keep them, I am come to a full determination. Mr Diodati senseth the words thus, They desire and expect that I should turn in favour to them and relieve them; whereas they should turn to me by repentance, which they will not do: and herein he followeth Arias Montanus. Thus those stiffnecked Jews in Jeremiah expected that God should still deal with them (however they dealt with him) according to all his wondrous works, Jeremiah 21:2, presuming and promising themselves impunity; and thus Judas also had the face to ask, Matthew 26:25, as the rest did, "Is it I?" as resting upon Christ's accustomed gentleness, and that he would conceal him still, as he had done certain days before.

Though they called them to the most High] They, that is, the prophets, as Hosea 11:2, called them with great importunity, upon every opportunity, to the most High, to God (in opposition to those dii minutuli, petty deities, whom they doted on. See Hos 7:16), to come up to him, to have high and honourable conceptions of him, not casting him in a base mould, as those miscreants did, Psalms 50:21, but saying as David, and with a David-like spirit, "Thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods"; and therehence inferring, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil," Psalms 97:9,10. "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be upright," Genesis 17:1. "The God of glory appeared to Abraham," Acts 7:2, he so conceived of God; and hence his unchangeable resolutions for God.

None at all would exalt him] Heb. together he exalted not, scarce a he, a single man, that would do it, that would lift up his head to listen to such good counsel (so some sense it), or that would exalt and extol the most High; who, though he be high above all praise, as Nehemiah 9:5, and cannot be praised according to his excellent greatness; yet is he pleased to account himself exalted and magnified by us, when, considering the infinite distance and disproportion that is between him and us, we lay ourselves low at his feet for mercy, we set him up in our hearts for our sole sovereign, we esteem him as the people did David, more worth than ten thousand, 2 Samuel 18:3, we give him room in our souls, and with highest apprehensions, most vigorous affections, and utmost endeavours we bestow ourselves upon him, as the only worthy. Now this is done but of a very few, and well done but of fewer yet; so drossy and drowsy are men's spirits, and so little is the Lord lifted up by the sons of men. See the prophet Isaiah's complaint, Isaiah 64:7 .