Hosea 12:14 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

The Holy Ghost is here again pleased to refer to the history of Jacob, and affectionately speaks of him and his love. But if Jacob be so spoken of under those endearments of character; what must we say of the Lord Jesus Christ? Jacob fled to Syria to avoid his brother's anger. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this our world to remove his Father's anger from his people. Israel served for a wife: Jesus' zeal to his Father's honor and love for his spouse the Church, made him endure the contradiction of sinners against himself. The sheep of Jacob, and the heritage his services obtained him, cost him indeed labour. But Jesus laid down his life for his sheep. He died that his people might live; yea, He became sin, and a curse for his redeemed, that they might be delivered both from sin and the curse, and be made the righteousness of God in him. Oh! how do all characters among men sink to nothing, when brought into account in the view of the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21. How doubly aggravated, yea, bitterness itself doth Ephraim's provocations appear, while contemplating the Lord's grace! Yet, Reader! notwithstanding this, I pray you still to observe the over-abounding grace of our covenant God in Christ, that he doth not give up, or lose sight of his covenant relations to his people, in his dear Son, but (as you perceive in this verse) still calls himself Israel's Lord. Oh! the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Oh! how doth grace shine in the glories of God's rich, free, sovereign mercy in Christ Jesus! Precious, precious Lord, from whom cometh salvation; what shall the Church render thee of love and praise, for all thy mercies? Thanks, thanks be unto God, for his unspeakable gift.