Oseas 2

1 DECID á vuestros hermanos, Ammi, y vuestras hermanas, Ruhama:

2 Pleitead con vuestra madre, pleitead; porque ella no es mi mujer, ni yo su marido; quite pues sus fornicaciones de su rostro, y sus adulterios de entre sus pechos;

3 No sea que yo la despoje desnuda, y la haga tornar como el día en que nació, y la ponga como un desierto, y la deje como tierra seca, y la mate de sed.

4 Ni tendré misericordia de sus hijos: porque son hijos de fornicaciones.

5 Porque su madre fornicó; la que los engendró fué avergonzada; porque dijo: Iré tras mis amantes, que me dan mi pan y mi agua, mi lana y mi lino, mi aceite y mi bebida.

6 Por tanto, he aquí yo cerco tu camino con espinas, y la cercaré con seto, y no hallará sus caminos.

7 Y seguirá sus amantes, y no los alcanzará; buscarálos, y no los hallará. Entonces dira: Iré, y volvéreme á mi primer marido; porque mejor me iba entonces que ahora.

8 Y ella no reconoció que yo le daba el trigo, y el vino, y el aceite, y que les multipliqué la plata y el oro con que hicieron á Baal.

9 Por tanto yo tornaré, y tomaré mi trigo á su tiempo, y mi vino á su sazón, y quitaré mi lana y mi lino que había dado para cubrir su desnudez.

10 Y ahora descubriré yo su locura delante de los ojos de sus amantes, y nadie la librará de mi mano.

11 Y haré cesar todo su gozo, sus fiestas, sus nuevas lunas y sus sábados, y todas sus festividades.

12 Y haré talar sus vides y sus higueras, de que ha dicho: Mi salario me son, que me han dado mis amantes. Y reducirélas á un matorral, y las comerán las bestias del campo.

13 Y visitaré sobre ella los tiempos de los Baales, á los cuales incensaba, y adornábase de sus zarcillos y de sus joyeles, é íbase tras sus amantes olvidada de mí, dice Jehová.

14 Empero he aquí, yo la induciré, y la llevaré al desierto, y hablaré á su corazón.

15 Y daréle sus viñas desde allí, y el valle de Achôr por puerta de esperanza; y allí cantará como en los tiempos de su juventud, y como en el día de su subida de la tierra de Egipto.

16 Y será que en aquel tiempo, dice Jehová, me llamarás Marido mío, y nunca más me llamarás Baali.

17 Porque quitaré de su boca los nombres de los Baales, y nunca más serán mentados por sus nombres.

18 Y haré por ellos concierto en aquel tiempo con las bestias del campo, y con las aves del cielo, y con las serpientes de la tierra: y quebraré arco, y espada, y batalla de la tierra, y harélos dormir seguros.

19 Y te desposaré conmigo para siempre; desposarte he conmigo en justicia, y juicio, y misericordia, y miseraciones.

20 Y te desposaré conmigo en fe, y conocerás á Jehová.

21 Y será que en aquel tiempo responderé, dice Jehová, yo responderé á los cielos, y ellos responderán á la tierra;

22 Y la tierra responderá al trigo, y al vino, y al aceite, y ellos responderán á Jezreel.

23 Y sembraréla para mí en la tierra, y tendré misericordia de Lo-ruhama: y diré á Lo-ammi: Pueblo mío tú; y él dirá: Dios mío.

Oseas 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.

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.