And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am]
the
Lord
God, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in goodness
and truth, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin; the
unchangeable Jehovah; the everlasting I AM; a covenant keeping
God; faithful and true to his promises; able and willing to
perform them; and does all things well and wisely; and was their
Lord and God. This knowledge designs not the first knowledge of
the Lord, but an increase of it; and not head knowledge, but
heart knowledge; a knowledge of God, joined with love and
affection to him, high esteem, and approbation of him; and
including communion with him, and an open profession and
acknowledgment of him: and it is an appropriating knowledge also;
a knowing him for themselves, and as their own; and such a
knowledge or heart to know the Lord is a pure gift of his, and
without which none can have it: and it may be observed, that in
captivity it was given them; afflictions were the means of it;
and happy it is when hereby men come to have a knowledge of God,
and to be better acquainted with him, ( Psalms 92:12
) ; and they shall be my people, and I will be their
God;
that is, it shall appear that they are so, by the above blessings
of grace and goodness bestowed upon them; the Lord hereby owning
them for his people, and they hereby coming to know that he is
their God: for,
or "when" F5 they shall return unto me with
their whole heart;
affectionately, sincerely, and unfeignedly. It supposes that they
had backslidden from God, his ways and worship; but now should
return by sincere repentance to him, and to his worship, and
obedience to his commands; so the Targum,
``for they shall return to my worship with their whole heart;''all this will have an entire accomplishment in the latter day, when the Jews will be converted and turn to the Lord, and fear him and his goodness.