xhortations to repentance. (1-5) Judah more guilty than
Israel. (6-11) But pardon is promised. (12-20) The children of
Israel express their sorrow and repentance. (21-25)
Verses 1-5: In repentance, it is good to think upon the sins of which
we have been guilty, and the places and companies where they
have been committed. How gently the Lord had corrected them! In
receiving penitents, he is God, and not man. Whatever thou hast
said or done hitherto, wilt thou not from this time apply to me?
Will not this grace of God overcome thee? Now pardon is
proclaimed, wilt thou not take the benefit? They will hope to
find in him the tender compassions of a Father towards a
returning prodigal. They will come to him as the Guide of their
youth: youth needs a guide. Repenting sinners may encourage
themselves that God will not keep his anger to the end. All
God's mercies, in every age, suggest encouragement; and what can
be so desirable for the young, as to have the Lord for their
Father, and the Guide of their youth? Let parents daily direct
their children earnestly to seek this blessing.
Verses 6-11: If we mark the crimes of those who break off from a
religious profession, and the consequences, we see abundant
reason to shun evil ways. It is dreadful to be proved more
criminal than those who have actually perished in their sins;
yet it will be small comfort in everlasting punishment, for them
to know that others were viler than they.
Verses 12-20: See God's readiness to pardon sin, and the blessings
reserved for gospel times. These words were proclaimed toward
the north; to Israel, the ten tribes, captive in Assyria. They
are directed how to return. If we confess our sins, the Lord is
faithful and just to forgive them. These promises are fully to
come to pass in the bringing back the Jews in after-ages. God
will graciously receive those that return to him; and by his
grace, he takes them out from among the rest. The ark of the
covenant was not found after the captivity. The whole of that
dispensation was to be done away, which took place after the
multitude of believers had been greatly increased by the
conversion of the Gentiles, and of the Israelites scattered
among them. A happy state of the church is foretold. He can
teach all to call him Father; but without thorough change of
heart and life, no man can be a child of God, and we have no
security for not departing from Him.
Verses 21-25: Sin is turning aside to crooked ways. And forgetting the
Lord our God is at the bottom of all sin. By sin we bring
ourselves into trouble. The promise to those that return is, God
will heal their backslidings, by his pardoning mercy, his
quieting peace, and his renewing grace. They come devoting
themselves to God. They come disclaiming all expectations of
relief and succour from any but the Lord. Therefore they come
depending upon him only. He is the Lord, and he only can save.
It points out the great salvation from sin Jesus Christ wrought
out for us. They come justifying God in their troubles, and
judging themselves for their sins. True penitents learn to call
sin shame, even the sin they have been most pleased with. True
penitents learn to call sin death and ruin, and to charge upon
it all they suffer. While men harden themselves in sin, contempt
and misery are their portion: for he that covereth his sins
shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them,
shall find mercy.
xhortations to repentance. (1-5) Judah more guilty than
Israel. (6-11) But pardon is promised. (12-20) The children of
Israel express their sorrow and repentance. (21-25)