Hosea Chapter 11
1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burnt incense to engraved images.
3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn't know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
5 "They won't return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
6 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.
7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them.
8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One amongst you; and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the LORD, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses," says the LORD.
12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
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Hosea Chapter 11:1 - 11:11 Guide
The third cycle of the prophecy sets forth the love which Jehovah had for His people, notwithstanding their sin. This section sets forth Jehovah's love toward His sinning people, and, for the most part, is the speech of Jehovah Himself. Thrice in the course of Jehovah's message to the people, the prophet interpolates words of his own. In studying the section it is necessary to take the words of Jehovah in sequence, and then the interpolations of the prophet in sequence also.
The message of Jehovah falls into three clearly marked movements, which deal, respectively, with the present in the light of past love, the present in the light of present love, the present in the light of future love.
In the first, Jehovah reminded the people of all His past love for them in words full of tenderness, setting their present condition in its light, and crying, "How shall I give thee up?" His own inquiry was answered by the determined declaration of the ultimate triumph of love and the restoration of the people.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Hosea Chapter 11 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- God's regard for Israel; their ingratitude. -- (1-7)
- The Divine mercy yet in store. -- (8-12)
Verses 1-7
When Israel were weak and helpless as children, foolish and froward as children, then God loved them; he bore them as the nurse does the sucking child, nourished them, and suffered their manners. All who are grown up, ought often to reflect upon the goodness of God to them in their childhood. He took care of them, took pains with them, not only as a father, or a tutor, but as a mother, or nurse. When they were in the wilderness, God showed them the way in which they should go, and bore them up, taking them by the arms. He taught them the way of his commandments by the ceremonial law given by Moses. He took them by the arms, to guide them, that they might not stray, and to hold them up, that they might not stumble and fall. God's spiritual Israel are all thus supported. It is God's work to draw poor souls to himself; and none can come to him except he draw them. With bands of love; this word signifies stronger cords than the former. He eased them of the burdens they had long groaned under. Israel is very ungrateful to God. God's counsels would have saved them, but their own counsels ruined them. They backslide; there is no hold of them, no stedfastness in them. They backslide from me, from God, the chief good. They are bent to backslide; they are ready to sin; they are forward to close with every temptation. Their hearts are fully set in them to do evil. Those only are truly happy, whom the Lord teaches by his Spirit, upholds by his power, and causes to walk in his ways. By his grace he takes away the love and dominion of sin, and creates a desire for the blessed feast of the gospel, that they may feed thereon, and live for ever.
Verses 8-12
God is slow to anger, and is loth to abandon a people to utter ruin, who have been called by his name. When God was to give a sacrifice for sin, and a Saviour for sinners, he spared not his own Son, that he might spare us. This is the language of the day of his patience; but when men sin that away, then the great day of his wrath comes. Man's compassions are nothing in comparison with the tender mercies of our God, whose thoughts and ways, in receiving returning sinners, are as much above ours as heaven is above the earth. God knows how to pardon poor sinners. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and therein declares his righteousness, now Christ has purchased the pardon, and he has promised it. Holy trembling at the word of Christ will draw us to him, not drive us from him, the children tremble, and flee to him. And all that come at the gospel call, shall have a place and a name in the gospel church. The religious service of Israel were mere hypocrisy, but in Judah regard was had to God's laws, and the people followed their pious forefathers. Let us be faithful: those who thus honour God, he will honour, but such us despise Him shall be lightly esteemed.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.