Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · minor prophets · Hosea · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
O Israel return to the Lord, for thou hast falne by thine iniquity: Having in the last verse chap. 13. which indeed is the first of this, threatned V. 1.Israel to the uttermost, now to shew what is the end of all Gods threatnings, he exhorteth to repentance, as whereby alone, such terrible judgment might be turned away, or being suffered, improved to the good of the soul.
Take words unto you, and say, Take away all iniquity: Here is a plaine V. 2.place for a Set Forme of Prayer to be used in publicke, as also Joel 2. Numbers 6. Wherefore they that stand for conceived Prayer onelyonly, are Note. opposite to the Prophet, who biddeth Take words with you; Yea, to God, and to Christ himselfe, Matthew 6. Luke 11. which wise men seeing into, and for good reason rendred by Calvin and others, have in all times and ages framed and used Liturgies from the beginning of the Gospell. For the words which the Prophet bids them take, are not left to their owne discretion, but set downe by him; neither doth he in thus saying stirre them up to use words onelyonly, that is, words uttered with the mouth, and not with the heart, for this is condemned Esa. 29. 13. but words comming from an heart broaken for sinne: so will wee render the calves of our lippes, that is, give thee praise, which is all that wee are able to doe; it is a Metaphor taken from Sacrificing Bullocks and Calves, intimating that praising God from the heart for his benefits is the best kinde of Sacrifice, as is also shewed Psalm 50.
Ashur shall not save us, wee will not ride upon Horses, &c. Here V. 3.implicitly they are taught to make confession of their sinnes, and a profession not to live in them any more: for wherein lay their greatest sinnes, but in seeking to the Assyrians, and not trusting in God and worshiping Images, the worke of their owne hands, and who so would obtain pardon for his sinnes must confesse and forsake them, Proverbs 28. 12.
I will heale their back-slidings, I will love them freely: No sooner can the faithfull pray to have their sinnes forgiven them, but God is in V. 4.Christ reconciled unto them, not for any thing in them, but freely out of his mercy in Christ, provided that they doe not onelyonly pray, but also leave their sinnes, as they are here taught to do.
For that this free love is in Christ the next words doe shew, I will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow as the Lilly, and cast forth his roots as V. 5.Lebanus: For to the dew is Christ also compared, Psalme 110. 3. because as no man seeth the falling of the dew in the night, so the Sonne of God came insensibly into the wombe of the virgin Mary, so Lyra, whereunto wee may adde, that as the dew falling makes the grasse to Lyra.grow, so Christ coming into the heart by faith makes grace to grow in us, something like to this, see Esay 45. 8. And for this of making us grow he is specially compared to the dew, and sometime to raine coming down upon the mown grasse.
And it is to be noted, that he saith, Israel shall grow as the Lilly, which is most white and faire, and therefore the beauty of a Lilly is by Christ preferred before the glory of Solomon, to shew that the faithfull are not blacke or foule by filthy sinne, but faire and white by holinesse, as is Cant. 2.also said Psalme 110. 31. and therefore the Church is set forth by a Lilly or by him that is compared to a Lilly. Here Christ may bee understood for his spotlesse purity. And hee spreads his rootes as Lebanus, that huge and strong Mountaine, that cannot bee moved, when hee makes his faith to take such rooting in the world farre and wide, that it cannot be rooted up againe, as he promiseth Matthew 16. 16. Gualter saith, that some expound it of Israel returning out of the Gualter.Babylonish captivity, but he extendeth it to the time of Christ.
Here the increase and excellency of Christ in his faithfull people V. 6.increasing and giving an odoriferous smell by the graces of his Spirit is further amplified by branches spreading, and the olive trees beauty and the sinell of Lebanon, according to which it is said, 2 Corinth. 2. 14. Wee are a sweet smelling savour, &c.
They shall dwell under his shadow that returne: this further confirmeth V. 7.it to bee spoken of Christ, hee shall grow as a Lilly and spread his branches: forsomuch as they that turne from Idols to him shall bee under his protection, and revive as the corne and vine, at the falling of this blessed dew: for to corne sowne are the hearers of the Word compared, Mat. 13. and to a Vines branches, Joh. 15. 1.
I have heard and observed him, I am like a greene Firre tree, from mee is V. 8.thy fruit found; that is, him that turneth God will make like a greene tree never withering, or will be such in him, for it is through God that wee are greene in grace and beare fruit. Neither are wee able to do it of our selves, as is also taught, Joh. 15.
Here hee concludeth with stirring up to the understanding and beleeving V. 9.of the mysteries of the Gospell, as foreseeing by the Spirit, that few would, but the wicked that would not should fall even hereby into everlasting condemnation according to that, hee which beleeveth not is damned, yea, although they beleeve, but yet walke in the Marc. 16. 16. Joh. 3. 19.darknesse of sinne, according to that, This is the condemnation of the world, that light is came, &c.