God’s Enduring Love for Israel
and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.' Still later we read, 'My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.' Then again His Father's heart yearned over His wandering children. In a tone heavy with sorrow and love the Lord says: 'When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt. . . . 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.' Then, as if His pity overcame His sense of justice, the Lord cries out: '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. 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.' The condition of Israel at this time was most grievous to God, and they had far exceeded the ordinary bounds of forbearance. The Lord hewed them by prophets and slew them by His word, but His heart yearned over them with inexpressible anguish. His love for them bore away the purposes of His righteous wrath. In chapter six words are put into the lips of the apostate people: 'Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; in the third day He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain.' And the last chapter is a most precious expression of the wonderful compassion of a long-suffering Saviour. Here are some portions of it: 'O Israel, return to the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 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.' Then, after teaching the people what to say, the Lord tells them how He will respond: 'I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.' There is nothing that so delights the heart of our Heavenly Father as the opportunity to forgive a repentant child. How greatly is mercy His delight! It is His will that His children should exhibit to all beholders the grace, the purity, the beauty of the lily, that most beautiful symbol of innocence. But the fragile nature of the flower is to be replaced by the firmness and stability of a mountain. 'They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which can not be removed, but abideth forever.' Looking forward, the Lord saw His poor wayward children captive in death. Still His mercy follows them, and He declares: 'I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from Mine eyes.' Yes; grace and infinite love will penetrate the grave; and the helplessness of His children stirs the heart of the great Father of us all. Throughout the book of Hosea we see flashing forth the most exquisite examples of sublimity, pathos, and wisdom. Many of these expressions have passed into current use as gems of thought. Perhaps there is no other book of equal length that furnishes so many examples of familiar quotations. Here are a few of them, besides those already quoted: 'The valley of Achor [weeping] for a door of hope.' 'Hedge up thy way with thorns.' 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.' 'Like people, like priest.' 'Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.' 'I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.' 'Ephraim is a cake not turned.' 'Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart.' 'For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.' 'Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy.' 'Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies.' This remarkable book closes with these words of grace: '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.'