Reader! do not fail still to pursue the subject with an eye to the Lord's grace, for the whole Chapter is full of it. The Lord, to whose comprehensive view, all things past, present, and future, form but one and the same object; beheld the visitation as at the door. His watchmen had shown it. The event cannot be passed over. But pray remark, how tenderly the Lord still speaks of Israel, in the days of his espousals. The Lord found Israel, like grapes in the wilderness; that is, as grapes are peculiarly grateful in such a place; so Israel was to the Lord; pleasant and delightful. See Jeremiah 2:2-3. Reader there is a peculiar aggravation in the sins of God's people, after they have known the Lord. This is to wound the Redeemer in the house of his friends. Zechariah 13:6.
Hosea 9:7-13
7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritualc man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.