Hosea 2:18-19 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven… He declares by what means He would "betroth them to Him for ever"; even in righteousness and judgment, and then in kindness and mercies, and then in faithfulness. 1. God had indeed from the beginning covenanted with the Israelites in righteousness and judgment; there is nothing disguised or false in His covenant. As then God had in sincerity adopted the people, to what vices does He oppose righteousness and judgment? I answer, These words must be applied to both the contracting parties; then by righteous ness God means not only His own, but that also which is, as they say, mutual and reciprocal; and by "righteousness and judgment" is meant rectitude, in which nothing is wanting. 2. "In kindness and mercies." By these words He intimates that though the people were unworthy, yet this would be no impediment in their way to prevent them to return into favour with God; for in this reconciliation God would regard His own goodness rather than the merits of His people. 3. "In faithfulness." This confirms the fixed and unchangeable duration of the marriage. By faithfulness is to be understood that stability of which I have spoken; for what some philosophise on this expression is too refined, who give this explanation, "I will espouse thee in faith," that is, by the Gospel. For we embrace God's free promises, and thus the covenant the Lord makes with us is ratified. I simply interpret the word as denoting stability. ( John Calvin.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. |
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