Oséias 2

1 “Chamem a seus irmãos ‘meu povo’, e a suas irmãs ‘minhas amadas’.

Castigo e Restauração de Israel

2 “Repreendam sua mãe, repreendam-na,pois ela não é minha mulher,e eu não sou seu marido.Que ela retire do rosto o sinal de adúlterae do meio dos seios a infidelidade.

3 Do contrário, eu a deixarei nuacomo no dia em que nasceu;farei dela um deserto,uma terra ressequida,e a matarei de sede.

4 Não tratarei com amor os seus filhos,porque são filhos de adultério.

5 A mãe deles foi infiel,engravidou deles e está coberta de vergonha.Pois ela disse: ‘Irei atrás dos meus amantes,que me dão comida, água,lã, linho, azeite e bebida’.

6 Por isso bloquearei o seu caminho com espinheiros;eu a cercarei de tal modo que ela não poderá encontrar o seu caminho.

7 Ela correrá atrás dos seus amantes, mas não os alcançará;procurará por eles, mas não os encontrará.Então ela dirá:‘Voltarei a estar com o meu marido como no início,pois eu estava bem melhor do que agora’.

8 Ela não reconheceu que fui euquem lhe deu o trigo, o vinho e o azeite,quem a cobriu de ouro e de prata,que depois usaram para Baal.

9 “Por isso levarei o meu trigo quando ele amadurecer,e o meu vinho quando ficar pronto.Arrancarei dela minha lã e meu linho,que serviam para cobrir a sua nudez.

10 Pois agora vou expor a sua lascíviadiante dos olhos dos seus amantes;ninguém a livrará das minhas mãos.

11 Acabarei com a sua alegria:suas festas anuais, suas luas novas,seus dias de sábado e todas as suas festas fixas.

12 Arruinarei suas videiras e suas figueiras,que, segundo ela, foram pagamento recebido de seus amantes;farei delas um matagal,e os animais selvagens as devorarão.

13 Eu a castigarei pelos diasem que queimou incenso aos baalins;ela se enfeitou com anéis e joiase foi atrás dos seus amantes,mas de mim, ela se esqueceu”,declara o SENHOR.

14 “Portanto, agora vou atraí-la;vou levá-la para o desertoe falar-lhe com carinho.

15 Ali devolverei a ela as suas vinhase farei do vale de Acor^[a] uma porta de esperança.Ali ela me responderá como nos dias de sua infância,como no dia em que saiu do Egito.

16 “Naquele dia”, declara o SENHOR,“você me chamará ‘meu marido’;não me chamará mais ‘meu senhor’.^[b]

17 Tirarei dos seus lábios os nomes dos baalins;seus nomes não serão mais invocados.

18 Naquele dia, em favor deles farei um acordocom os animais do campo, com as aves do céue com os animais que rastejam pelo chão.Arco, espada e guerra,eu os abolirei da terra,para que todos possam viver em paz.

19 Eu me casarei com você para sempre;eu me casarei com você com justiça e retidão,com amor e compaixão.

20 Eu me casarei com você com fidelidade,e você reconhecerá o SENHOR.

21 “Naquele dia, eu responderei”,declara o SENHOR.“Responderei aos céus,e eles responderão à terra;

22 e a terra responderá ao cereal,ao vinho e ao azeite,e eles responderão a Jezreel.^[c]

23 Eu a plantarei para mim mesmo na terra;tratarei com amor aquela que chamei Não amada.^[d]Direi àquele chamado Não meu povo:^[e] Você é meu povo;e ele dirá: ‘Tu és o meu Deus’.”

Oséias 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The idolatry of the people. (1-5) God's judgments against them. (6-13) His promises of reconciliation. (14-23)

Verses 1-5 This chapter continues the figurative address to Israel, in reference to Hosea's wife and children. Let us own and love as brethren, all whom the Lord seems to put among his children, and encourage them in that they have received mercy. But every Christian, by his example and conduct, must protest against evil and abuses, even among those to whom he belongs and owes respect. Impenitent sinners will soon be stripped of the advantages they misuse, and which they consume upon their lusts.

Verses 6-13 God threatens what he would do with this treacherous, idolatrous people. They did not turn, therefore all this came upon them; and it is written for admonition to us. If lesser difficulties be got over, God will raise greater. The most resolute in sinful pursuits, are commonly most crossed in them. The way of God and duty is often hedged about with thorns, but we have reason to think it is a sinful way that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses and obstacles in an evil course are great blessings, and are to be so accounted; they are God's hedges, to keep us from transgressing, to make the way of sin difficult, and to keep us from it. We have reason to bless God for restraining grace, and for restraining providences; and even for sore pain, sickness, or calamity, if it keeps us from sin. The disappointments we meet with in seeking for satisfaction from the creature, should, if nothing else will do it, drive us to the Creator. When men forget, or consider not that their comforts come from God, he will often in mercy take them away, to bring them to think upon their folly and danger. Sin and mirth can never hold long together; but if men will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirth from their sin. And if men destroy God's word and ordinances, it is just with him to destroy their vines and fig-trees. This shall be the ruin of their mirth. Taking away the solemn seasons and the sabbaths will not do it, they will readily part with them, and think it no loss; but He will take away their sensual pleasures. Days of sinful mirth must be visited with days of mourning.

Verses 14-23 After these judgments the Lord would deal with Israel more gently. By the promise of rest in Christ we are invited to take his yoke upon us; and the work of conversion may be forwarded by comforts as well as by convictions. But usually the Lord drives us to despair of earthly joy, and help from ourselves, that, being shut from every other door, we may knock at Mercy's gate. From that time Israel would be more truly attached to the Lord; no longer calling him Baali, or "My lord and master," alluding to authority, rather than love, but Ishi, an address of affection. This may foretell the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; and also be applied to the conversion of the Jews to Christ, in the days of the apostles, and the future general conversion of that nation; and believers are enabled to expect infinitely more tenderness and kindness from their holy God, than a beloved wife can expect from the kindest husband. When the people were weaned from idols, and loved the Lord, no creature should do them any harm. This may be understood of the blessings and privileges of the spiritual Israel, of every true believer, and their partaking of Christ's righteousness; also, of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. Here is an argument for us to walk so that God may not be dishonoured by us: Thou art my people. If a man's family walk disorderly, it is a dishonour to the master. If God call us children, we may say, Thou art our God. Unbelieving soul, lay aside discouraging thoughts; do not thus answer God's loving-kindness. Doth God say, Thou art my people? Say, Lord, thou art our God.

Footnotes

• [a]. "Acor " significa "problemas."
• [b]. Hebraico: "Baal."
• [c]. "Jezreel " significa "Deus planta."
• [d]. Hebraico: "Lo-Ruama."
• [e]. Hebraico: "Lo-Ami."

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 2

This chapter is an explanation of the former, proceeding upon the same argument in more express words. The godly Israelites are here called upon to lay before the body of the people their idolatry, ingratitude, obstinacy, and ignorance of the God of their mercies; and to exhort them to repentance, lest they should be stripped of all their good things, and be brought into great distress and difficulties; all their joy and comfort cease, and be exposed to shame and contempt, Ho 2:1-13, yet, notwithstanding, many gracious promises are made unto them, of their having the alluring and comfortable word of the Gospel; of a door of hope; of salvation being opened to them; of faith in the Lord, and affection to him as their husband; of the removal of all idolatry from them; of safety from all enemies; of their open espousal to Christ; of his hearing of their prayers, and giving them plenty of all good things; and of their multiplication, conversion, and covenant relation to God, Ho 2:14-23.