Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.
Ver. 3. Then shall we know] Heb. And we shall know, we shall follow on to know, Sciemus sectabimurque (Vatablus). We shall experimentally know the Lord if we turn unto him; we shall taste and see that the Lord is good. We shall not only be raised "out of the dust of death," that is, of deep afflictions (wherein we "lay as among the pots"), and "live in his sight," that is, comfortably, Psalms 22:15; Psalms 68:13; but we shall know him, which is life eternal; yea, we shall prosecute knowledge, follow on to know, as unsatisfiable, and not content with any measures already required; yea, we shall proceed therein and make progress, as the morning light doth to the perfect day. Those that turn from their iniquities shall understand God's truth, Daniel 9:13, shall be of his counsel, Psalms 25:14, shall have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16, the wisdom of God in a mystery, 1 Corinthians 2:7, such as the great Rabbis of the world can no more understand than the Philistines could Samson's riddle, 1 Corinthians 2:8, yea, these "pure in heart shall see God," Matthew 5:8, see him and live, see him, and eat and drink, being much cheered and refreshed, as those nobles of Israel, Exodus 24:10,11. Provided that being once enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, they be not slothful, but show the same diligence, Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 6:11,12, in the use of means to get more knowledge, till they all "come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13, or (as the words may be read) of that age wherein Christ filleth all in all, Ephesians 3:19, so as to be able to comprehend with all saints the several dimensions, and to "know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." Lo, this is indeed to follow on to know the Lord; when we are still adding to our virtue knowledge, till (with those famous Romans) we be full of goodness, filled brimful with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another, saying, "Come, and let us return to the Lord," &c. "Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord," Isaiah 2:5, walk in that light we have, and we shall have more; for "to him that hath," sc. for use and practice, "shall be given," Mark 4:25. He that first begs, and then digs for knowledge, searching for her as for hidden treasure, Proverbs 2:3,4, he shall be sure of some daily comings in from Christ; he shall understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Hosea 6:5; Christ will say unto him, as once he did to Nathaniel, "Thou shalt see greater things then these," John 1:50, even "great and mighty things, which thou knowest not," Jeremiah 33:3 .
His going forth is prepared as the morning] That is, as sure as the morning followeth the night, and shineth more and more unto the perfect day, so sure shall God appear for our comfort, and shall dispel the night of our calamity. Mourning lasteth but till morning, Psalms 30:5; and as before the morning light is the thickest darkness, so before deliverance our afflictions are usually increased upon us. God appeareth on the sudden and beyond expectation (as out of a cloud, or as out of an engine, εκ της μηχανης), and shows himself then usually when things are at their worst. Hence that of Job, Post tenebras spero lucern; After the darkness I look for the light, and that of the Church in Micah, "Though I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me," Micah 7:8. Vatablus applieth this text to the coming of Christ, that Day Star from on high, that Sun of righteousness, to whom all the prophets point God's people, when they would comfort them indeed (orietur Christus ut aurora quae adventu suo depellit tenebras); arise Christ so that dawn with its arrival dispells the darkness, for he is the consolation of Israel, the desire of all nations, for whom their souls waited more than they that watch for the morning wait for the morning, Psalms 130:6. But because God's going forth is opposed to his departure, when he retired to his place, Hosea 5:10, therefore, his settled going forth here, is by most interpreted of his manifestations of his mercy to his poor prisoners of hope, those disconsolate captives, whom he not only brought back from Babylon, but also shineth into some of their hearts, by the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
And he shall come unto us as the rain] As the showers of blessing, Ezekiel 34:26, rain of liberalities, Psalms 68:9, rain of righteousness, Hosea 10:12. Cito exaudi me, Domine; complue me, saith Austin upon those words of David, my soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land. Hear me quickly, O Lord, rain righteousness upon my dry soul, fill me with the fruits of thy Spirit; whose work it is to illuminate and sanctify, as it is the Father's to heal, Hosea 6:1, and the Son's to revive, and raise us together with himself, the firstfruits of them that sleep, Hosea 6:2 .
As the latter and former rain unto the earth] sc. in perfection of gifts and graces, by degrees wrought in our hearts; or, in seasonable and suitable comforts, as rain in seedtime, softening the ground; and a little before harvest, to plump and fill up the grain in the ear.