And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I [am] the LORD their God, and will hear them.
Ver. 6. And I will strengthen the house of Judah] Robustos, ac quasi Gabrieles efficiam (a Lapide). See Zec 12:8 Isaiah 10:34 Zechariah 10:5. The saints shall be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, Colossians 1:11, at the resurrection especially when Christ shall change their vile bodies, and make them like unto his glorious body, in strength, agility, beauty. The bodies of the saints, saith Luther, shall have that power as to toss the greatest mountains in the world like a ball. Anselm saith, such as they shall be able to shake the whole earth at their pleasure Our Saviour saith that they shall be as the angels of God, Luke 20:36, more like spirits, than bodies, while they are here. In quiet and confidence is their strength, Isaiah 30:15; and again in the same chapter, Zechariah 10:7, their strength is to sit still. They expected much strength from Egypt; but the prophet tells them that by sitting still and waiting for the salvation of God by faith they shall have an Egypt; and better, out of weakness they should be made strong, wax valiant in fight, turn to flight the armies of the aliens, Hebrews 11:34, as the Maccabees did, and as Michael and his angels, Revelation 12:7,9, the noble army of the apostles, who were more than conquerors; and martyrs, who tired their tormentors and laughed at their cruelty the valour of the patients, the savageness of the persecutors strove together; till both exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and astonishment in beholders and readers. These were those lion-like men of the tribe of Judah that took the kingdom by violence. Judah, which signifieth the confessor, had the kingdom, as Levi had the priesthood, both forfeited by Reuben, who was weak as water, Genesis 49:4 .
And I will save the house of Joseph] That is, Ephraim, put for the ten tribes, whom God here promiseth to save, not to bring back, See Geneva on " Zec 10:9 " But others there are that gather from these words and those that follow that God will not only preserve them, but reduce and re-settle them in their own country, yea, and multiply them so abundantly, as that their country shall not be able to hold them, Zechariah 10:10. Whence cometh Asshur's and Egypt's subjection to Christ; that is, all the tract of the east and of the south, Zechariah 10:11, and their perpetual establishment in the faith.
And I will bring them again to place them] I will place them in their houses, as Hosea 11:11. The Sept. render it, I will cause them to dwell. The Chaldee, I will gather together their captivity. Some special mercy is assured them by this special word of a mixed conjugation, compos, שׁוב et הושׁכחים ישׁב .
For I have mercy upon them] Here is a double cause alleged, of these so great and gracious promises; and both excluding works. First, God's mere mercy. Secondly, his election of grace, for "I am the Lord their God." This latter is the cause of the former; for God chose his people for his love, and then loveth them for his choice. The effects of which love are here set down: 1. That he heareth their prayers, "I will hear them." 2. That he re-accepteth and restoreth them in Christ, as if they had never offended against him, "They shall be as though I had not cast them off." That was a cutting speech, and far worse than their captivity, Jeremiah 16:13, when God not only threateneth to cast them out of their country into a strange land, but that there "he would show them no favour." Here he promiseth to pity them; and then they must needs think deliverance was at next door by.
And they shall be as though I had not cast them off] And this the sooner and the rather because they called them outcasts, saying, "This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after," Jeremiah 30:17. The Jewish nation, saith Cicero, show how God regards them that have been so often overcome, viz. by Nebuchadnezzar, Pompey, &c. God therefore promiseth to provide for his own great name, by being fully reconciled to his poor people, whom the world looked upon as abjects.
For I am the Lord their God] And if I should not see to their safety, it would much reflect upon me. This David well knew; and therefore prays thus, "I am thine, Lord, save me," Psalms 119:94 .
And will hear them, or, I will speak with them] Speak to their hearts. It is no more, saith one, than if a man were in a fair dining room with much good company, and there is some special friend whom he loveth dearly that calleth him aside to speak in private of business that nearly concerneth him; and though he go into a worse room, yet he is well enough pleased. So if God, in loss of friends, houses, country, comforts whatsoever, will speak with us, will answer us, the loss will be easily made up. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, being a long time prisoner under Charles V, was demanded what upheld him all that time? He answered, that he had felt the favour of God, and the Divine consolations of the martyrs. There are Divine comforts that are felt only under the cross. I will bring her into the wilderness, and there speak to her heart, Hosea 2:14. Israel was never so royally provided for with manna, quails, and other cares as when they were in the wilderness. The cross is anointed with comfort, which makes it not only light, but sweet; not only not troublesome and importable, but desirable and delightful, saith Bernard. Thy presence, O Lord, made the very gridiron sweet to Laurence, saith another. How easily can God make up our losses and breaches?