Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come to us as the rain… It is a universal law that nothing great can be achieved without perseverance. For want of considering this, many who commence a religious course with zeal and joy run well for a season, but meeting with unex pected difficulties, grow weary and give up the race. I. DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. 1. To know the Lord implies a general knowledge of His being, nature, and attributes, 2. It signifies a more particular and experimental knowledge of God, especially of His justice and mercy, these being the two great attributes exercised in the stupendous work of human redemption. The true believer is happily possessed of an experimental knowledge of the Divine mercy. 3. A more peculiar knowledge of God, especially of His goodness and love, is obtained by the sincere and pure in heart who "follow on to know" Him. 4. To know the Lord includes also, profound veneration; ardent love; humble confidence; and sincere and uniform obedience. II. THE MEANS OF ACQUIRING DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. 1. God could, no doubt, communicate a perfect knowledge of Himself instantaneously. But in doing so He must work a miracle, and this without answering any valuable end. The gradual operations of God in providence and grace are accommodated to our finite capacities, enabling us, step by step, to trace Him in His wondrous works. 2. To illustrate this Hosea uses two beautiful figures — the "morning" and the "rain." 3. That this is the mode of the Divine manifestations evidently appears — (1) From the media through which they are communicated; His works, His Word, and His Spirit. (2) From the gradual manner in which God has revealed His will unto man by successive dispensations. (3) This appears in the rise and progress of religion in the soul. The understanding is enlightened; the judgment convinced; the heart affected; and the will subdued. Hence contrition, repentance, faith, and prayer. Justification follows, and, in full, sanctification. (4) We see, therefore, the necessity of following on to know the Lord, pressing on as after a guide through a crowd, as after a light in a dark place. When fully sanctified, there is as much necessity as ever for following on. The fountains of Divine knowledge are perennial. There are yet unexplored heights, and lengths, and depths, and breadths of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. (Thomas Rowe.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. |
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