CRITICAL NOTES.—
Hosea 2:14. Therefore] Nevertheless a promise of conversion (Hosea 2:14-17); and assurance of renewed covenant (Hosea 2:18-23). Misery draws mercy. Allure] in a friendly sense; decoy by words, persuade by love. God outbids the idols and displays his attractive grace. Wilderness] The way from Egypt to Canaan a type of temporal want and distress, needful discipline, and miraculous deliverance. Solitude leads to enjoyment and fellowship with God. Speak comfortably] Lit. to her heart in friendly feeling; to mitigate her grief and heal her wounds.
Hosea 2:15. Achor] Where Achan troubled Israel (Joshua 7:11-15); the borders of Canaan and the place of cleansing and success. A door of hope] Hope dawned in despair, and sorrow turned into joy. Sing] When God speaks comfortably the Church responds gratefully, like Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 15; cf. Isaiah 11:15-16). Youth] Days of blessed experience and vigour of life, when delivered from bondage and unwasted by sin.
Hosea 2:16. Ishi] An appellation of love. Baali] An appellation of rule. B. applied to idols is now disowned by God, and not to be taken on their lips (Exodus 23:13).
RESTORATION TO GOD.—Hosea 2:14-16
“Therefore,” a treatment not as we should expect, not after the manner of men, but according to Divine mercy. This is not an inference from the 13th verse, but from the whole section. Because Israel had been punished severely for sin and forgetfulness of God; because reduced to distress and longing to return to God—I will go and return, Hosea 2:7—“therefore” God allures and restores the sinner to himself.
I. The nature of restoration to God.
1. From bondage to liberty. Israel in Egypt, under severe, helpless, degrading servitude, a type of the sinner under the dominion, authority, and consequence of sin. Heavy tribute, cruel taskmasters, unrequited toil, render life bitter and distressing. Sin makes the sinner serve with rigour and sigh for freedom. Israel redeemed and led into the wilderness a type of separation from sin and restoration to God. An entire separation to devote oneself to God (Exodus 5:3).
2. From darkness to light. Egypt not only a place of bondage, but of darkness. Sin is moral darkness. The valley of Achor is a place of Divine chastisement and suffering. Sin brings trouble, penitence bursts the clouds and brings hope. Put away the accursed thing: God will show mercy. The sinner when restored is turned from the darkness of ignorance and doubt, fear and despair, to the light of truth and joy, from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18).
II. The method of restoration to God.
1. By Divine attraction from without. God seeks to counteract the effects of sin by showing its exceeding sinfulness; to allure to virtue by displaying its beauty; to persuade men by the preaching of the gospel. God in Christ is placable. Hard thoughts of God are sinful. Truth is beautiful, and the promises are encouraging. Though deep and fixed dislike be rooted in the heart, yet “God is love.” This is the special revelation, the grand fact of the gospel. It is the expression of God’s love to me—“He hath loved me.” This Divine truth imparts new ideas to the mind, and stays the progress of the sinner, like that of Saul in his departure from God.
2. By Divine operation within. “And speak comfortably unto her.” The truth of God alone is not sufficient. The Spirit must enlighten the mind and work in the heart. The ear may be touched, but the soul not comforted. When truth is near it does not attract, nor kindle sympathy in the heart. Men know the truth, but do not practise it. God, Christ, and moral virtue do not attract. The Spirit renews the disposition and begets love; makes us willing, and draws us with the cords of a man and bands of love. God speaks friendly, and draws effectually when he writes his laws in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:10).
III. The results of restoration to God. God does not speak in vain. As in the first creation he spake and it was done, so in the second his will is obeyed. “I will draw all men unto me.”
1. Response for reluctance. The sinner is unwilling to return; the penitent fears and hesitates; but when God said, “Seek ye my face,” my heart said unto thee, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Where other voices fail God’s voice is effectual. There is a true response, a prompt and ready response. The inmost soul is moved, and, like the echo among the Alps, repeats the notes of Divine music. There is no delay nor denial, for this savours of distrust, and displeases God. There is full and complete, hearty and sincere return. The resolution is no sooner made, “I will go,” than carried out. The heart is in tune with God, and sings for joy, like Israel in her days of youth and deliverance. Israel at the Red Sea was a young and joyful nation, redeemed from bondage and ready to sacrifice. “I will sing unto the Lord” (Exodus 15). Man never rises to his dignity until he realizes his relation to God. Then he utters emotions in songs of praise, and music becomes the handmaid of memory and the instrument of praise.
2. Riches for poverty. “I will give her vineyards from thence.” The wilderness had no supply of bread and water, no fertile plains and fruitful fields. It yielded nothing, yet Israel lacked nothing. Water gushed out from the rock, and manna fell from the clouds. The sinner is in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; barren and unfruitful in heart and life; poor in spirit and prospect, in a wretched and forlorn condition, “wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” But when restored to God, he is rich in experience and life, spiritual joy and hope, rich in faith and rich in God.
3. Sonship for slavery. “Thou shalt call me Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali.” Baal indicated lordship, and was a name given to idols. God would disown the title, lest his people should be reminded of their former condition—preferred the tender name of love to prove closer relationship. “Thy Maker (thy Baal) is thy husband.” God would have Israel forsake everything which kept up the reputation and put them in mind of idolatry. He was married again to them. The Church calls him by right names when in true relation. The sinner when restored to Divine favour, the son when introduced into the family of God, is not under the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption by which he cries, Abba, Father. God is not cold towards us; be not lukewarm towards him. “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 2:14. “I will allure her,” &c. The attractions of Divine love.
1. They are innumerable, yet so frequently overlooked.
2. They are powerful, yet so frequently resisted.
3. Rich in blessing, yet so frequently unemployed. “Christ works upon his people fortiter, but yet suaviter; powerfully, but yet sweetly; he inclineth their hearts to his testimonies, and not to covetousness (Psalms 119:36), and brings them to the obedience of faith. If he do seduce them it is for no hurt, it is but to speak a word in private to them, as one friend may with another; it is but to give them his loves, as he speaks in the Canticles; to show them his glory, as he did Moses; to spread before them his beauty, and so to catch them by guile as St Paul did the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:16); to steal away their hearts before they are aware, according to that, Song of Solomon 6:12, that they thenceforth may be an Aminadab, a willing people, a free-hearted people (Psalms 110:3), waiting for the law (Isaiah 42:4), and walking by the rule (Galatians 6:16)” [Trapp].
The valley of Achor.
1. An assertion of God’s rights.
2. A warning to sinners (cf. Joshua 7:25-26).
A door of Hope.
1. Trouble turned into joy.
2. Judgment turned into mercy.
3. Despair turned into hope.
Up out of the land of Egypt. Moral life an elevation in character, purpose, and pursuit; an advancement towards God and heaven. “Such as are converted to Christ, should resolve on a journey and progress, as having more before them of duty and exercise and enjoyments; for after she is ‘allured,’ Israel is to remove and come to a wilderness, whether we understand it of the progress of the godly toward heaven, or toward wonted enjoyments” [Hutcheson.]
Vineyards from thence. Observe the Author of these favours. I will do it. Every good gift is from God; and his people acknowledge that all they enjoy is not only from his agency, but from his grace. Observe also the richness of the supplies. I will give her, not her corn, which is for necessity, but grapes, which are for delight. Yea, it is not a vine, but a vineyard; yea, vineyards! As if he could not do too much for them, he engages to give; concerned not only for their safety, but welfare; not only for their relief, but enjoyment; not only for their tasting consolation, but being filled with joy and peace in believing. Observe also the strangeness of the way in which these indulgences are to be communicated. Whence are these supplies to come? From a wilderness. Loneliness and mazes, danger and beasts of prey, sand, and briers, and thorns only in a wilderness. “He only doeth wondrous things;” turns the shadow of death into morning, makes rivers in high places and streams in the desert. He makes the wilderness to rejoice and blossom as the rose, and gives us vineyards from thence.
Earth is a wilderness. It was not designed to be such, but sin entered into the world, cursed the ground, and the Fall left it such. Such it would be now but for Divine grace. Men of the world are discontented and miserable; to the Christian the curse is turned into a blessing. He has before him a land of promise, a thousand succours and delights, and in Divine ordinances he has comforts, vineyards from thence. Solitude is a wilderness. There is much to be done, gained, and enjoyed alone. There we gain our best knowledge and richest experience; enjoy the freedom of prayer and intercourse with God. Outward trouble is a wilderness. Many afraid to be brought into it, but God has given them vineyards from thence. What proofs of God’s presence in trouble! What discoveries and supports! As the sufferings of Christ have abounded, so the consolations have also abounded by Christ. The state of mind produced by conviction of sin. A wounded spirit, who can bear? Who does not remember the surprise, the confusion of mind, the terror, the anguish, and self-despair he once felt? and who can forget the feelings induced by a discovery of the cross and the joy of God’s salvation? Many are afraid when their friends tremble at God’s word and are broken in heart. Christians hail it as a token for good, and know that he gave them their vineyards from thence. The same may be said of self-abasement, and distress of soul, which a believer may feel, when he sees his unworthiness, depravity, and guilt. The experience is lamentable, but will not hurt him. He giveth grace unto the humble. The valley of the shadow of death is the last wilderness. There is much to render it awful and uninviting, but when entered the gloom flies away. The place has been made glad for those subject to its bondage and fear. They have had a peaceful and delightful entrance into the joy of their Lord. And what vineyards does he give them from thence! [Jay].
Hosea 2:15. A revived Church. 1. The frequent condition of the Church. In the land of Egypt; in bondage to sin, to sense, and to materialism.
2. The means of revival. “I will allure—speak comfortably—and give her vineyards.”
3. The results of revival. “Youth,” and renewed vigour. “Sing,” joy, and rejoicing. God’s presence restored his ancient people from literal captivity, and his spiritual seed from sorrow and distress. “God’s dealings with his people will furnish them with joy and refreshment; ‘she shall sing.’ Not only should they rejoice when all things are performed according to promise, but when the Lord gives any pledge of his love, or begun evidences of it, they ought to cherish it by joy and praise, though full fruition be wanting: for even ‘there’ on the border of her wilderness, in the valley of Achor” [Hutcheson].