The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me ... Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Israel gratefully acknowledges in reply God's past grace; but at the same time tacitly implies, by the expression "of old," that God does not appear to her now. 'God appeared to me of old, but now I am forsaken!' God replies, Nay, I love thee with the same love now as of old (Malachi 3:6). My love was not a momentary impulse, but from "everlasting" in my counsels, and to "everlasting" in its continuance; hence, originated the covenant whereby I gratuitously adopted thee (Malachi 1:2; Romans 11:28-29). Margin translates, 'from afar,' which does not answer so well as "of old" to "in the wilderness" (Jeremiah 31:2), which refers to the olden times of Israel's history.
With loving-kindness ... drawn - (Hosea 11:4). Rather, 'I have drawn out continually my loving-kindness toward thee.' So Psalms 36:10. "Continue (margin, draw out at length) thy loving-kindness." By virtue of my everlasting love I will still extend my loving-kindness to thee. So Isaiah 44:21, "O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me."