Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

Under the similitude of two adulterous women, the Prophet is here taught to speak of the spiritual fornication of Samaria and Jerusalem . The Prophet sets forth the iniquity at large, and the just displeasure of Israel's God upon the occasion.

The Reader will enter into the beauties of this Chapter, and the design of it also, if he takes with him the consideration all the way along as he reads it, that the whole scope of the Chapter is to set forth the wonderful baseness and stupidity of the Lord's Israel in committing fornication against the Lord. The Reader will not, I should hope, need to be put in mind, that the Lord all along, and in every part of his blessed scripture, is continually expressing his attachment to Israel, under the figure of the marriage state. And while we consider that sweet union of our nature with the person of Christ the Son of God, it will appear, that nothing can be more just and proper. Now then, when the Son of God by the assumption of our nature, becomes one with his people, for his Church to commit fornication with stocks and stones, and to set up dunghill gods, when brought into covenant relation with the Lord of life and glory; surely such base, worthless, unprincipled conduct, could not but be most glaringly offensive to the Lord God. And accordingly we find, not only in this Chapter, but in the writings of other Prophets, with what indignation the Lord speaks of it. See Ho 1; 2; 3 throughout, Jer 2; 3 etc. I hope the Reader will not fail to follow up the doctrine as relating to the Gospel Church in the present hour. Is not every one, who calls himself a truly converted soul to God in Christ, in the present day of the Church in a greater or less degree guilty of the same spiritual fornication, that is, not living wholly to the Lord, in resting altogether for salvation upon the merits, blood, and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ? To mingle anything with this, or to be looking to any object in a way of salvation but Christ, is in the language of this Chapter, to be doting upon our lovers, whose flesh is the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses: neither of which can profit or bring advantage. The Lord deliver all his redeemed ones from so dreadful a delusion!

We have here only a continuation of the same melancholy rehearsal of crimes, of one sister that had been charged also against the other. The subject is but one, though lengthened so many verses. I will not unnecessarily swell the pages, and therefore shall add no further comment. It will be a blessed sanctified subject, both to the Writer and Reader, if from the whole our minds are led to the conclusion of the Holy Ghost by the Apostle; God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh! that it may be found, that where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 11:32 and Romans 5:20-21.

REFLECTIONS

READER! what are your own views of human nature at large, in reading the sad account of sin and rebellion in this Chapter? And yet more what think you of the Israel of God, in beholding the baseness here manifested by a professing people to the God of Israel? What will any man think of taking confidence in himself, after such views of a fallen nature. Reader! is it not enough to cause every believer to go softly all his days? And will not such humbling representations of nature, serve, through grace, to keep open a perpetual spring of repentance and sorrow in the soul? Will it not prove, under God, the best and strongest of all arguments to hide pride from our eyes, and to divorce the heart from all legal frames and self-righteousness? Will it not also prompt the soul to look to God continually for grace, that by his Holy Spirit, we may be enabled to mortify the deeds of the body and live, in a suitable deportment of holy conversation and godliness? Above all, can anything tend equally to endear Christ in all his loveliness, and in all his glory? Oh! precious, precious Jesus! how doth every view of ourselves and all around us, bring home with increasing conviction in the soul, the absolute need we have of thee, and thy great salvation? Oh Lord! let the great improvement of this Chapter, and indeed of all thy Holy Scriptures, be to lead our hearts to thee; to live upon thee, to walk with thee, and everlastingly to enjoy thee, as the whole sum and substance of all our happiness. Truly blessed Redeemer, thou art indeed the all in all to thy people: and most gracious was it commanded the Church, to call thee by thine adorable name: the Lord Our Righteousness.