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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 14:1-3

Here we have, I. A kind invitation given to sinners to repent, Hos. 14:1. It is directed to Israel, God's professing people. They are called to return. Note, Conversion must be preached even to those that are within the pale of the church as well as to heathen. ?Thou are Israel, and therefore art bound to thy God in duty, gratitude, and interest; thy revolt from him is so much the more heinous, and thy return to him so much the more necessary.? Let Israel see, 1. What work he has made for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 14:2

Take with you words, and turn to the Lord ,.... Not mere words without the heart, but such as come from it, and express the true sense of it; words of confession, as the Targum; by which sin is acknowledged, and repentance declared, and forgiveness asked. Kimchi's note is a very good one; "he (that is, God) does not require of you, upon return, neither gold nor silver, nor burnt offerings, but good works; therewith confessing your sins with your whole hearts, and not with your lips only;' ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 14:3

Ashur shall not save us ,.... This is still a continuation of the words repenting and returning Israel are directed to make use of before the Lord, declaring they would not do any more as they had done; to Assyria, or the kings of Assyria, as the Targum, for help, and desire assistance, and expect deliverance and salvation from thence; see Hosea 5:13 ; we will not ride upon horses ; to seek for help elsewhere; or go to Egypt for them, as they had done; or put their trust in them for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 14:2

Take with you words - And you may be assured that you pray aright, when you use the words which God himself has put in your mouths. On this very ground there is a potency in the Lord's Prayer, when offered up believingly, beyond what can be found in any human composition. And it may be presumed that it was this consideration that induced our reformers to introduce it so frequently in the public liturgy. See the order of God's directions here: - Hearing these merciful invitations, believe... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 14:2

Verse 2 He afterwards shows the way of repentance: and this passage deserves to be noticed; for we know that men bring forward mere trifles when they speak of repentance. Hence when the word, repentance, is mentioned, men imagine that God is to be pacified with this or that ceremony, as we see to be the case with those under the Papacy. And what is their repentance? Even this, — if on certain days they fast, if they mutter short prayers, if they undertake vowed pilgrimages, if they buy masses,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 14:3

Verse 3 This verse ought to be joined with the last, as the Israelites show here more clearly and fully in what they had sinned, and, at the same time, give proof of their repentance; for when they say, The Assyrian shall not save us, we shall not mount on horses, we shall not say to the work of hands, Our gods, it is to be understood as a confession, that they had in these various ways roused against themselves the vengeance of God; for they had hoped for safety from the Assyrians, ran here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 14:1-2

God's message to the prodigal. This chapter stands out in vivid contrast from much that precedes it. The denunciation of threats is over, and now Hosea turns to tender pleading with the godless. The change is like that which we see sometimes during a thunderstorm. The clouds gather, the wind sinks into a solemn silence, then the thunder rolls and crashes overhead, and men's hearts fail them for fear. But suddenly there is a lull, the clouds break, and, as a burst of sunshine lights up the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 14:1-2

Counsels to the sinful. It was the office of the prophet to be faithful at once with man and with God. He was bound not to flatter man, not to conceal or palliate human sins. At the same time, it was his to declare the whole counsel of God as the Ruler of all men, the Judge of the obdurate, the Healer of the penitent. I. A REMINDER OF THE FALL . The Book of Hosea's prophecies is full of reproaches and expostulations addressed to backsliding, idolatrous Israel. The people are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 14:1-3

The fallen invited to return. The history of Israel is the moral history of the world, at least in miniature. I. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF . The history of Israel repeats itself in the history of mankind in general. Their history is the history of sin and of salvation, of ruin and of recovery, of the mercy of God and of the backsliding of man. Their bondage in Egypt represents the slavery of sin; their rescue out of the hand of the oppressor, our redemption; their sojourn in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 14:1-3

Return to God: its beginnings. The long and terrible storm of denunciation is now at last over; the wrath-clouds roll away, and the sunshine of the Divine love bursts forth with healing in its wings. Beyond all the hurly-burly of the tempest sent as the punishment of sin, the prophet discerns the paternal tenderness and the loving patience of the God of Israel. So he begins this closing chapter of his book with a last tender entreaty to return to him who "sitteth upon the flood," and who " ... read more

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