_O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God._ MAN’S EVIL ESTATE, AND HOPE OF DELIVERANCE While the freeness of God’s mercy is the leading idea suggested by the text, it is not the only one: the condition of our nature is accurately expressed, as is the mode by which alone it can be ameliorated. I. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take with you words, and turn to the Lord._ TURNING TO GOD IN PRAYER This passage teaches us how we are to come back to God. “Take with you words and turn.” We are to come in prayer to God. We are to come in supplication, to come and acknowledge that we have nothing, and with an entreaty that He... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asshur shall not save us._ GIVING UP OUR VAIN CONFIDENCES It is a great point of wisdom to take advantages with the stream of our temper to praise God. It is one branch of redeeming the time, to observe what state and temper of soul we are in, and to take advantage from thence. Add some encouragem... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will heal their backsliding._ THE AWFUL STALE OF BACKSLIDERS In the history of the Israelites there is no feature more striking than their frequent rebellions and backslidings. It is amazing to think that a nation which had witnessed such signal interposition of the Divine power in their behalf... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will be as the dew unto Israel._ DIVINE RELATIONSHIP AND HUMAN RESPONSIVENESS Through the picturesque forms and utterances of Hebrew prophecy there breaks a very deep and generous sympathy with the world of nature. For Israel itself, fallen and debased by grievous backslidings, smitten as with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with idols._ JOINED TO IDOLS Compare this account of Ephraim with that given in Hosea 4:17. How is this surprising Change to he accounted for? I. A sinner in his natural state is joined to idols. Herein consisteth the essence of man’s apostasy. Somet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?_ WHO IS WISE There must be prudence and wisdom before we can understand Divine truths; there must be an illumination within. A man may know whether he be prudent and wise by his relishing of Divine truths, for otherwise he is not wise and prudent... [ Continue Reading ]