Hosea 11:1 –11

W HEN Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

The ancient love and grace of God ought to have been a powerful motive for obedience, but it was not.

2  As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. (The more they were warned, the more they sinned. Alas, how many do the same!)

3, 4  I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (As the husbandman gives rest to the oxen, removes their yoke, and feeds them, so the Lord set his people free and supplied their needs, and yet they revolted from him.)

5  ¶ He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

6  And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them , because of their own counsels.

7  And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him .

8  How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

9  I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. (Mark the tender love of God, and his unwillingness to smite his people. The same conflict is in his soul still towards sinners. Such compassion should lead us to repentance.)

10  They shall walk after the Lord : he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

11  They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord .

At last in alarm they would fly to God, and he would save them. Even if sinners come to God entirely out of fear, he will not reject them.

Hosea 14

O ISRAEL, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

What gracious pleading! Can we reject it as Israel did? If we do, we shall fall as they did.

2, 3  Take with you words, and turn to the Lord : say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Words are put into the sinner's lips—will he not use them? He has only to give up his sins, and his false trusts, and God will pity him as he does children in distress. The next words are mercy itself written out in capitals.

4  ¶ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (He shall be beautiful and enduring.)

6  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. (He shall flourish and yield shade to others, he shall be fruitful, and therefore fair to look upon, and the fame of his happiness and excellence shall fly abroad like sweet perfume.)

7  They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (His children and dependents shall be blest also; and shall enjoy divine favour in a manner most choice and sweet.)

8  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. (All our goodness comes from God's grace; we must for ever be barren without him. Let us study well these passages of sacred writ, for the next verse very solemnly calls us to devout attention.)

9  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The Interpreter: Spurgeon's Devotional Bible (385). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.