Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? - being brought to penitence by God's goodness, and confessing and abhorring his past madness.
I have heard him, and observed him - I Yahweh have answered and regarded him with favour: the opposite of God's former denunciation, "I will hide my face from them" (Deuteronomy 31:17). It is the experience of God's favour, in contrast to God's wrath heretofore, that leads Ephraim to abhor his past idolatry. Yahweh heard and answered; whereas the idols, as Ephraim now sees, could not hear, much less answer.
I am like a green fir - or cypress: ever green, winter and summer alike: the leaves not falling off in winter.
From me is thy fruit found - "from me," as the root. Thou needest go no further than me for the supply of all thy wants: not merely the protection implied by the shadow of the cypress, but that which the cypress has not-namely, fruit; all spiritual and temporal blessings. It may be also implied that whatever spiritual graces Ephraim seeks for or may have, are not of themselves, but of God (Psalms 1:3; John 15:4-5; John 15:8; James 1:17). God's promises to us are more our security for mortifying sin than our promises to God (Isaiah 27:9).