Hos. 14 An exhortation to repentance, Hos. 14:1–3. A promise of God’s blessing, Hos. 14:4–9.

O Israel, you that are the true Israel of God, you that are the remnant amidst so great a body of incurable rebels, return; repent ye thoroughly, not hypocritically, turn ye from all your sins in which with others you have been defiled, and turn to the Lord, the everlasting, living God, who is…

Take with you words; bethink yourselves what words will best set out your sins, God’s patience towards you, and your present sorrow and repentance for sin; prepare yourselves to make confessions, petitions, vows, and praises to God; and turn; with words join deeds, let your hearts be in your words,…

Asshur shall not save us: it had been one great sin of Israel that they did trust to an arm of flesh; Asshur is particularly named, for that he was the last with whom they made a covenant fairly, or above-board, but any other foreign aids and friendships may be here understood.

I will heal: it is a usual metaphor in Scripture; sin is our disease. God is the Physician who healeth us, Ps. 103:3, Jer. 3:22; and he doth it through Christ, in whom this promise is made to returning backsliders.

I, the Lord, who have pardoned, and am appeased, will be as the dew, refresh and water, that they may grow, and that they may be fruitful and flourish, as the dew in those countries, where it was more abundant than with us, and for some months together supplied the want of rain; God will refresh…

His branches, his tenderest branches which are new sprung out, shall gather strength, not be broken off, but by these shall they multiply in number of boughs. Shall spread; grow great and beautiful, and excellent for shade.

They that dwell under his shadow; as many as unite to the church, are members of it, shall dwell under these spreading trees: the churches planted and spreading shall be to new converts as such trees to fainting travellers, almost spent with toil and heat; they shall find rest in this shadow, which…

Ephraim; not the whole body of Ephraim, but converted Ephraim, those who, Hos. 14:1–2, were sensible of sin, confessed it, and sued for pardon. What have I to do any more with idols? i.e.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? though not many wise, yet some methinks; now of those few, who is there that will consider what sins God complains of and threatens to punish in his people, what sins God forbade them so much as once to commit, and peremptorily commanded them to…