Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Daniel Joel
Hosea 14
Concise Complete
An exhortation to repentance. (1-3) Blessings promised,
showing the rich comforts of the gospel. (4-8) The just and the wicked. (9)
Verses 1-3 Israel
is exhorted to return unto Jehovah, from their sins and idols, by faith in his
mercy, and grace through the promised Redeemer, and by diligently attending on
his worship and service. Take away iniquity; lift it off as a burden we are
ready to sink under, or as the stumbling-block we have often fallen over. Take
it all away by a free and full forgiveness, for we cannot strike any of it off.
Receive our prayer graciously. They do not say what good they seek, but refer it
to God. It is not good of the world's showing, but good of God's giving. They
were to consider their sins, their wants, and the remedy; and they were to take,
not sacrifices, but words stating the desires of their hearts, and with them to
address the Lord. The whole forms a clear description of the nature and tendency
of a sinner's conversion to God through Jesus Christ. As we draw near to God by
the prayer of faith, we should first beseech him to teach us what to ask. We
must be earnest with him to take away all iniquity.
Verses 4-8 Israel
seeks God's face, and they shall not seek it in vain. His anger is turned from
them. Whom God loves, he loves freely; not because they deserve it, but of his
own good pleasure. God will be to them all they need. The graces of the Spirit
are the hidden manna, hidden in the dew; the grace thus freely bestowed on them
shall not be in vain. They shall grow upward, and be more flourishing; shall
grow as the lily. The lily, when come to its height, is a lovely flower,
matthew 6:28,29. They
shall grow downward, and be more firm. With the flower of the lily shall be the
strong root of the cedar of Lebanon. Spiritual growth consists most in the
growth of the root, which is out of sight. They shall also spread as the vine,
whose branches extend very widely. When believers abound in good works, then
their branches spread. They shall be acceptable both to God and man. Holiness is
the beauty of a soul. The church is compared to the vine and the olive, which
bring forth useful fruits. God's promises pertain to those only that attend on
his ordinances; not such as flee to this shadow only for shelter in a hot gleam,
but all who dwell under it. When a man is brought to God, all who dwell under
his shadow fare the better. The sanctifying fruits shall appear in his life.
Thus believers grow up into the experience and fruitfulness of the gospel.
Ephraim shall say, God will put it into his heart to say it, What have I to do
any more with idols! God's promises to us are more our security and our strength
for mortifying sin, than our promises to God. See the power of Divine grace. God
will work such a change in him, that he shall loathe the idols as much as ever
he loved them. See the benefit of sanctified afflictions. Ephraim smarted for
his idolatry, and this is the fruit, even the taking away his sin,
isaiah 27:9. See the
nature of repentance; it is a firm and fixed resolution to have no more to do
with sin. The Lord meets penitents with mercy, as the father of the prodigal met
his returning son. God will be to all true converts both a delight and a
defence; they shall sit under his shadow with delight. And as the root of a
tree; From me is thy fruit found: from Him we receive grace and strength to
enable us to do our duty.
Verse 9 Who profit by
the truths the prophet delivered? Such as set themselves to understand and know
these things. The ways of God's providence towards us are right; all is well
done. Christ is a Foundation Stone to some, to others a Stone of stumbling, and
a Rock of offence. That which was ordained to life, becomes, through their abuse
of it, death to them. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. But those
transgressors certainly have the most dangerous, fatal falls, who fall in the
ways of God, who split on the Rock of Ages, and suck poison out of the Balm of
Gilead. Let sinners in Zion fear this. May we learn to walk in the right ways of
God, as his righteous servants, and may none of us be disobedient and
unbelieving, and stumble at the word.
Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Daniel Joel
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
