Hosea 8:2 Israel shall cry to me, My God, we know you. Israel pretended to know God, but in works denied Him. They would cry and say, We know Thee; when in truth they knew Him not, and were only speaking lies in hypocrisy. I. OBSERVE THE TIME WHEN THEY WOULD MAKE THIS PROFESSION. In a season of great affliction and distress, when God would contend with them, when their enemies should be let loose upon them, and everything around them look dark and distressing. When they begin to feel God's wrath they will begin to humble themselves, and profess themselves to be His people. Troubles will often make those pray who never prayed before. But if they leave off prayer when the trouble is over, this shews that it came out of feigned lips. Conviction is often the fruit of correction, but does not always lead to conversion. II. THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS PROFESSION WOULD BE MADE, They would not only speak, but speak vehemently, and "cry" with earnestness and confidence. But they called God their God, though they had no interest in Him, and claimed an acquaintance with Him while they were ignorant of His true character. III. THE IMPORTANCE OF A RIGHT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. 1. It is a great thing truly to know the Lord. A perfect knowledge of God is unattainable by us. But a true knowledge of God is vital and efficacious, and has a transforming influence. It is the effect of Divine illumination, so .that none have it until it is communicated from above. 2. A profession of this knowledge is of great importance. It is no light matter to be able to say on good ground, "My God, I know Thee." With the mouth confession is made unto salvation, but there must first be a believing with the heart unto righteousness. True faith will produce a good confession. Let us see that our acknowledgment of God be accompanied with corresponding affections and dispositions towards Him, going to the grounds of our religion, and tracing it up to its source and origin. IV. SOME OF THE EVIDENCES OF A TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. 1. All saving knowledge proceeds from God only. All the knowledge we have of Him by the unassisted efforts of reason will come to nothing. 2. Saving knowledge will produce a humble confidence in God. Humility is one of the first fruits of a good understanding. 3. A spiritual acquaintance with God will be accompanied with a conformity of soul to Him. There will be a resemblance of His holy nature, and a subjection to His holy will. (1) It is a great evil to profess to know God, and yet, in works, to deny Him. (2) Beware the contrary extreme, of withholding an open profession of the truth after we have been brought to understand and receive it. (3) The subject shows the reason why many apostatise from their profession. They have received the truth, but not in the love of it. (4) The enlightening and renewing influences of the Holy Spirit are necessary to form the Christian character. (B. Beddome, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. |
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