## Ebc28 - Hosea

Hosea

General

Hosea prophesied in Israel--the ten-tribe kingdom--prior to the Babylonian captivity, dying about the time that Samaria capitulated. The name Hosea signifies salvation and corresponds well with the prophecy. The Lord through Hosea made plain to Israel that their national destruction and captivity was at hand; that it was a punishment for sin; but that it also told the people of God's sympathy for them, of his many loving forbearances, etc., and assured them that he would continue to love them to the end, and eventually bless them and recover them from the land of the enemy. Hosea's own experiences in life in some degree pictured the Lord's experiences with Israel. Hosea's wife was unfaithful to him, as Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord. Following the Lord's direction, Hosea took back his wife, reclaiming her; and his message to Israel was of God's continued love for that people. R5809:2

Hosea was a resident and prophet in the kingdom of Israel during a part of the period in which Isaiah was prophesying in the kingdom of Judah. It would appear that the Lord permitted Hosea to have certain very trying experiences in domestic troubles, with a view to impressing upon his mind the Lord's view of Israel, his spouse. These severe experiences through which the Prophet passed seemed to be preparing him to voice the Lord's sentiments of tender compassion to Israel, his espoused one, who so frequently and persistently went after other gods. If the prophecy of Hosea be read from this standpoint, its tender compassionate appeals will be appreciated as from no other. R2490:3; R2491:1,2; R4811:2

Hosea 1

Hosea 1:1

Word of the LORD -- First came to Hosea in connection with his own domestic trials. R2491:1

Hosea -- His name signifies "salvation," corresponding well with his prophecy. R5809:2

A prophet to the ten tribes of Israel during part of the period in which Isaiah was prophesying to the two-tribe kingdom of Judah. R2490:3

In the days -- Hosea prophesied in Israel at the time of their depravity, just before their captivity. R2491:1, R5809:2

Hosea 1:2

Go, take unto thee -- Hosea's own experiences in life in some degree pictured the Lord's experiences with Israel. R5809:2

Hosea 1:3

And took Gomer -- Picturing Israel, as a false wife, and God himself as a merciful husband. R2491:1

An attractive girl who, at the time of their marriage, was quite possibly true and worthy of his affection. R2491:1

And bare him a son -- Only her first child was recognized by the prophet. R2491:1

Hosea 1:6

Lo-ruhamah -- Meaning, "she that never knew a father's love"; an orphan, not by death, but by her mother's sin. Not claimed by Hosea as his child. R2491:1*

House of Israel -- The ten tribes. C296; R1341:5

Utterly take them away -- The ten tribes; but he would have mercy on Judah, the two tribes (see verse 7). C296; R1341:5

Hosea 1:9

Lo-ammi -- Meaning, "not my people" or "no kin of mine"; disowned by Hosea. R2491:1*

Not my people -- Rejection, for a time, of all Israel. C296; R1341:5

Hosea 1:10

Israel shall be -- As all nations, during the Millennium, gradually flow to Israel and come under obedience to the New covenant regulations, thus becoming Israelites indeed on the earthly plane. R4575:6

Sand of the sea -- At the close of the Mediatorial Kingdom, our Lord will deliver over only Israelites--the seed of Abraham. R4575:6

Sons of the living God -- Those from among the Gentiles who had formerly not been recognized by the Lord. R1341:5; C296

Applied to Gentile Christians by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 9:23-26. C296; R1341:5

Hosea 1:11

Then -- At the time of the rejection of fleshly Israel and the recognition of spiritual Israel. C296; R1341:5

Gathered together -- As one nation. The distinction between Israel and Judah ended with the restoration from Babylon. R1364:6

One head -- Be reunited under one head. C296; R1341:5

Hosea 2

Hosea 2:2

She is not my wife -- The Lord permitted domestic troubles for Hosea to impress upon him the Lord's view of Israel as a false wife. R2491:1

She stayed in his house until the sixth year. Then he either put her away from him, or she went her own way. R2491:2*

Her husband -- Referring to a union in a less particular sense than the New Testament references to Christ and his Bride. Here the word husband simply means caretaker. R1389:1

God was a most merciful husband to Israel. R1389:1, R2491:1

Her whoredoms -- Hosea's wife was unfaithful to him, as Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord. R5809:2

Her adulteries -- Christendom is, in the Scriptures, charged with adultery, in that she lives with the world. R4811:5

Hosea 2:7

I will go and return -- Not a promise from the Lord that he would remarry them. C296; R1341:6

Hosea 2:14

Her -- The true Church. R1841:6

Into the wilderness -- The true Church is the Church in the wilderness. (Rev. 12:6, 14; Luke 15:4; Isa. 51:3; Cant. 8:5) R1841:6

Illustrated by the millions of persecuted Jews in Russia who tell, not only of their suffering, but of their deep desire to return to the land given to Abraham and his seed forever. R394:3*

Speak comfortably -- Speaking to their hearts. R394:3*

Hosea 2:15

A door of hope -- Which the Millennial reign of the true seed of Abraham will open for these rebellious people. C297, C296; R1341:6

Hosea 2:18

In that day -- The glorious 1000 years. R541:5*

A covenant -- The New covenant. R282:6, R4371:2

will break the bow -- Dates the "door of hope" (verse 15) by declaring it to be after the time of trouble, when wars shall be no more. C297; R1341:6

Hosea 2:19

Will betroth thee -- Possibly the whole house of fleshly Israel, but probably spiritual Israel is meant. C297; R1341:6

Hosea 2:21

Hear the heavens -- The Christ, as a heavenly priesthood, shall make successful intercession for the earth. R1434:1*

Hear the earth -- Represented through its "princes," and these princes shall answer the people. R1434:1*

The new earth (2 Pet. 3:13), reorganized society. A319

Hosea 2:22

And the wine -- Message of joy. R1695:2

They shall hear Jezreel -- Thus the great antitypical day of Jezreel is to be realized. R1434:1*

Hosea 2:23

Thou art my people -- The spiritual class, selected during the time when fleshly Israel has been cast off. C297; R1341:6

"Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it and the rest are blinded." (Rom. 11:7) C297; R1341:6

Hosea 3

Hosea 3:1

Yet, love a woman -- Following the Lord's direction,

Hosea took back his wife, reclaiming her; and the message to Israel was of God's continued love for that people. R5809:2

Hosea 3:2

So I bought her -- Hosea purchased back his unfaithful wife from the slavery into which she had been sold. R2491:2

Voicing the Lord's tender compassion to Israel. R2491:2

Taking her back under his own roof, but not as his wife. He was compassionate toward her and her offspring. R4811:2

Hosea 3:4

The children of Israel -- "His blood be upon us, and upon our children." (Matt. 27:25) R5571:4

Many days -- Many years. OV105:T Without -- Without any communication with God whatever; a mark of divine disfavor. OV76:1, OV104:8

Without a sacrifice -- Thus the annual Atonement Day, for more than 18 centuries, has been a farce--but the matter should be mentioned to Jewish people with full sympathy, calling attention to the fact that where the type ceased the antitype began. OV105:1

Aliens from God, without prophet, priest, sin offerings, Atonement Days. R5571:4

Hosea 3:5

Afterward -- The time nears when the Lord will pour upon Israel the spirit of prayer and supplication. (Zech. 12:10) R5571:4

Hosea 4

Hosea 4:1

Children of Israel -- Nominal fleshly Israel and, doubly, in its fuller application, to nominal spiritual Israel. D19,20

Hath a controversy -- Because the day of recompenses has come. (Isa. 34:8) D19

Hosea 4:6

My people -- The discontented, the unsatisfied, hungering and thirsting after the right was of God--the real teachings of the Bible. OV263:T Are destroyed -- Perish. R4396:3, R3941:3

Ensnared by the very ones who should be their pastors, assistants and protectors; and by reason of their confidence in them. R4396:3

Are dumbfounded. R3008:5

Lack of knowledge -- Many do not realize how important are knowledge and a correct faith. R4527:4, R4533:6

Dwarfed Christian life and experience result, except as the Word of God is understood and assimilated. R5416:5

Faith can keep pace only with knowledge, for faith must have a basis. A correct life depends greatly upon a correct faith. R4527:4, R4533:6

Because, though generally swift to speak and slow to hear, they, through indolence or fear, neglect systematic study of the divine message. R3941:3

God's Word, through the prophet, applies to Jews as well as to Christians. OV154:T False teachings in high places, and throughout Babylon, have hidden the "key of knowledge" to the privileges and opportunities of the Gospel age. (Luke 11:52) R2693:4

They are "willingly ignorant." (2 Pet. 3:5) "They hear not, neither do they understand." (Matt. 13:13) SM288:1

The secret of nearly all the rebellions against the Bible is the result of a lack of knowledge of God, his plan and his Book. R3008:5

Being ensnared by misplaced confidence in spiritual leaders. R4396:3

There is a famine in the land, not for bread, but for the hearing (understanding) of the Word of the Lord. (Amos 8:11) OV154:T Few parents realize their obligations toward the children they bring into the world. R5700:6

Hast rejected knowledge -- Having "hidden the key of knowledge," they not only fail to enter the privileges of the Gospel call, but they hinder them that would enter, by their false teachings and misrepresentations. R2693:4

Hosea 4:11

And wine -- Doctrine, or the spirit of the world. D266, D267

As the first house of Israel stumbled because of intoxication with false doctrines, so with nominal spiritual Israel. R3962:5

"The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." (Rev. 17:2) R3962:5

Hosea 4:13

Of the mountains -- Kingdoms. A318

Hosea 4:14

With harlots -- Apostate churches. B277

Hosea 4:17

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Is joined to idols -- The idolatry of money. B139

Let him alone -- For a period of 70 years--long enough to allow nearly all of them to die in exile, a period in which those who loved idolatry might go their own way. R3623:5

Hosea 5

Hosea 5:3

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 5:7

Strange children -- Members of the nominal church, begotten not of the truth, but of error; partaking, not of the spirit of Christ, but of the spirit of the world. R1009:1

Tares. (Matt. 13:38) R1009:2

Those whom God does not acknowledge as his sons. R1009:1

Now -- While in a rejected, spewed-out condition. R1434:1*

A month -- 30 years--the divinely set time during which the false shepherds shall be devoured. R1433:6*

"Three shepherds also I cut off in one month." (Zech. 11:8) R1433:3*

Their portions -- Possessions. (Leeser) R1434:1*

Hosea 5:11

Broken in judgment -- Made desolate, "broken through punishment." R1434:1*

Hosea 6

Hosea 6:1

Come -- In their afflictions, the great time of trouble, they will come to acknowledge their guilt and to seek the Lord. R1434:1*

Verses 1 to 3 refer to Israel's judgments and their final repentance and reconciliation. Q788:4; R2294:5

Let us return -- The returning ones represent those fullest in faith in the Lord and his promises. Cii The prodigal must will to return, the prodigal must strive to return, but the Father will meet him on the way to receive him and to bless him. R3361:6

He hath torn -- He wounds to heal. SM55:T He will heal us -- After the time of trouble is past. A256; SM55:T The great Messiah, Christ and the Church. SM55:T As Priest of the Millennial time. SM55:T The healing process will be coincidental to the wounding and breaking. SM55:T When his sharp arrows shall smite them, and his judgment, as a hammer, shall break the hard, stony hearts. SM54:2

Giving them "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." (Isa. 61:3) A256

He hath smitten -- The Jews had experienced the judgment of the Lord in the destruction of the city of Jerusalem at a time corresponding to the fifth thousand-year day. Q788:4, Q795:2

Hosea 6:2

After two days -- The fifth and sixth thousand-year days. R2294:5, R643:1*; Q788:4

In the third day -- The seventh thousand-year day, a sabbath. R2294:5, R643:1*; Q788:4

Jesus spoke in the fifth thousand-year day since Adam. So the seventh thousand years, the Millennium, would be the third day from when he spoke. Q635:1; R92:6*

Early in the morning of this third day--the thousand years of Messiah's reign--"all Israel shall be saved." (Rom. 11:26) Q789:T, Q795:2

If our Lord knew of the third day as indicating a three thousand year period, he did not know what day and hour in that three thousand year period he would be present and the work begin. (Mark 13:32) Q635:1

He will raise us up -- Two thousand years of the Jews' cast-off condition is followed by the thousand years of favor and resurrection--an additional reason why Christ arose on the third day. R643:2*, R2294:5

A double signification: one phase of this prophecy applied to Christ in person, and that has been fulfilled, and is the pledge that the other phase of it will be fulfilled in subsequent resurrections. R350:1*

Hosea 6:3

If we follow on -- A continuous eating. You must seek. R201:5

It is as much our work to follow as it is the Spirit's work to lead us into all truth. R130:4*

Let us not put down stakes and say, "Thus far will I believe and no farther." R130:4*

We must not expect to obtain all the truth in one swallow, it is a continuous eating. R201:5

As the rain -- Truth. B256

Of the two rains picturing Christ's first and second coming. R643:4*

Latter --Spring. R643:4

Former -- Fall. R643:4*

Hosea 6:4

O Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 6:6

Mercy, and not sacrifice -- Explaining why the publicans and sinners were more attracted to the Lord's words than the Pharisees-the latter trusted in themselves that they were righteous, spurning to ask or accept mercy; the former admitted that they were unrighteous and had need of mercy. R2260:5, R2591:6

The great lack of many critics and faultfinders is their lack of mercy and of love. R3754:4

Hosea 6:7

Like men -- Like Adam. (Margin and R.V.) R4902:2, R5832:3,5 R762:3, R4570:2*

Transgressed the covenant -- Abolishing that covenant relationship and all its privileges. R5021:3

One act of disobedience broke the covenant between God and Adam by which he was treated as a son and guaranteed everlasting life. R5149:2, R4902:2, R5021:3, R5223:3, R5832:3

Because of Adam's transgression the world is not in covenant relationship with God in any sense of the word. R5162:3

Hosea 7

Hosea 7:1

Of Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 7:11

They call to Egypt -- The world. C317; F458

Hosea 8

Hosea 8:7

Reap the whirlwind -- A principle of the divine law. (Gal. 6:7; Prov. 22:8; 2 Cor. 9:6) R1653:3

The time of trouble. D528

Hosea 8:9

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 9

Hosea 9:3

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Return to Egypt -- The world. C317; F458; R1681:6

Hosea 9:9

They have deeply corrupted -- It is not God who has corrupted mankind. R1351:5*

Hosea 10

Hosea 10:6

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 10:8

To the mountains -- Kingdoms. A318

And to the hills -- Less high, less autocratic governments. D551

Fall on us -- Cover, protect us. It is absurd to expect wicked men to get faith enough to pray for literal mountains to fall on them. B139

Hosea 11

Hosea 11:1

Israel -- "Prevailer," the name applied well to Jesus. R436:1

I loved him -- Love is the keynote of the Bible, notwithstanding the fact that it contains threatenings as well as promises, and declarations and manifestations of justice as well as mercy. R5809:2

Called my son -- The Lord Jesus; to the higher, divine nature. C316

Out of Egypt -- Out of the world. C316; R1681:6

This prophecy has three applications: the deliverance of the nominal house of Israel in the days of Pharaoh; the return of the infant Jesus to the land of his birth; and the ultimate deliverance of Christ and the entire Church of God. R1681:6, R436:1; C316

Hosea 11:3

I taught Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Hosea 11:4

Bands of love -- Love is the keynote of the Bible. R5809:2

Hosea 11:8

How shall I -- Through Hosea, the Lord made loving appeals to Israel, as a father to his children. R3463:6

As Admah -- "A desolate room." R3464:1

Hosea 11:10

Walk after the LORD -- The various chastisements of Israel were intended for their good and eventually made that nation, at the time of Jesus, the most holy people in all the world--the only people recognized by God. R5809:6

Hosea 11:11

The land of Assyria -- Babylonia. R5809:2

I will place them -- Although Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord, he would nevertheless loyally receive them again. R5809:2

Hosea 12

Hosea 12:1

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

And oil -- The holy Spirit. T116

Carried into Egypt -- The world, the opponents of the people of God. C317; F458

Hosea 12:2

Will punish Jacob -- Natural Israel. A300

Hosea 12:4

Prevailed -- Pray perseveringly. R5381:2, 4*

Hosea 13

Hosea 13:1

When Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

In Baal -- Or Bel, the god of Babylon, the Pope. B256; D24, D40

Hosea 13:2

And idols -- The idolatry of money, etc. B139

Hosea 13:4

Saviour --Jehovah, in that he provided a Redeemer in the person of Christ. R379:2

Author of the divine plan. E33

Not standing in wrath, seeking to slay or torture until the Lord Jesus interposed and satisfied the Father's malice and anger by receiving the blow of wrath in man's stead. E34

Hosea 13:9

Destroyed thyself -- In the days of Samuel, by praying for a king, contrary to the divine arrangement. R3217:4

The answer to Israel's prayer for a king was disadvantageous to her as a nation. R3217:4

Hosea 13:10

I will be thy king -- The King whom the Lord intends to give to Israel and the world is Messiah. R3217:5

Hosea 13:11

And took him away -- The Lord took away the kings of Israel when the people went into captivity to Babylon; there have been no independent kings of that nation since. R3217:5

Hosea 13:14

I will -- Jesus shares in the Father's plan for our ransom from the grave. R387:2

Since the Church is to be associated with Christ in all the Millennial work, therefore the Church, in that sense of the word, will be identified with the ransoming work, the work of deliverance. Q112:1

The resurrection hour has not yet come. R690:3*

Ransom them -- To buy back, by giving a price to correspond, to redeem. R4818:3; R1228:1, R2399:1

Deliver by a ransom. R5891:1

Used in a prophetic sense as including the entire work of redemption, down to the very end of the Millennial age. R5891:1

The word here signifies to recover from the grave; a different sense than the word ransom in 1 Tim. 2:6. R4747:2, R4818:3, R4864:1

Man's recovery from death is a part of the ransom work. R5882:4, R1228:1; Q571:T The ransom price was paid nearly 1900 years ago, but man is not yet ransomed from the grave, and will not be until the awakening in the Millennium. R4617:4

The ransom work will take the whole Millennial age. R5891:1, R4617:1, R5873:2; Q112:1

The ransoming work will be finished when the New covenant is put into effective operation; but the atonement work will not be finished until the end of the Millennial age. R5882:4; Q571:T Power of the grave -- Sheol, oblivion, not torment. E373; SM27:2; R2600:3, R2608:5

All who are in their graves shall ultimately be set free. OV363:3

"All that are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God." (John 5:28,25) R2613:3

After the last member has been delivered from the power of the grave there is still a great resurrecting work to be done--a raising up out of imperfection of mind, morals and physique to the full image and likeness of God. R5873:3

I will redeem them -- Messiah's Kingdom will bless, not only the living, but also those who have fallen asleep. R5706:4; CR479:4

Every member of Adam's race is to be delivered by Him who redeems all. HG497:2

From death -- Adamic death. R2608:5

And not from eternal torment. R2600:3, R387:3

Mankind has no option but to come forth from the tomb in due time, because the ransom has been applied on their behalf. PT388:2*

In view of the fact that the divine plan has arranged for the redemption from sheol, death is appropriately described as a sleep. R4054:3

"Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:54, 55) E373

O death -- Death is not a friend, but an enemy. R625:6

Thy plagues -- Gradual destruction. HG497:2

O grave -- Sheol, oblivion. E373

Quoted in 1 Cor. 15:54, 55, proving that the word hades in the New Testament is equivalent to the word sheol in the Old Testament. R2600:4

There is no evidence in the Old Testament that sheol had more than one signification, or that its later signification was different from its earlier. R828:6*

I will be -- Future--"in due time." R690:3*

He presently, when united with his Bride, will begin the work of destroying death by raising all mankind out of it. R381:2

Thy destruction -- Through the opening of the prisonhouse. R2610:2, R303:6, R381:2, R474:4; OV168:6, OV363:1

The grave is really a symbol of hope; for we would not speak of it as a prisonhouse were it not for our hopes of a resurrection. R894:2

In the Millennial reign. R474:4; OV168:5

The grave, the tomb, the state of death, is to be destroyed. OV168:4, OV363:2

The Lord will break the bands of death and set the captives free. PT387:5*

Ransom and resurrection follow each other like cause and effect. R1322:2*

Adamic Death shall be forever swallowed up and cease in the Second Death, into which it is to be cast by the great Redeemer. R2608:5; OV363:2

The thousand years of Messiah's reign will be devoted to this very work of destroying Adamic Death. OV168:4

Death will continue to be an enemy until its final destruction in the Millennial reign. R303:6, R474:4

"For he must reign until he has placed all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:25) R763:5

Therefore, even if it were a place of torment, it would not endure to all eternity. E373; Q363:1; HG556:5, HG735:1

Hosea 14

Hosea 14:1

Israel -- At that time, distinct from Judah. R4811:1

The prophet addresses the people. R2491:2

Thou hast fallen -- Applicable also to our own nation. as well as to every nation. R4811:2

Also includes nominal spiritual Israel. R4811:5

Thine iniquity -- Israel had become debauched through idolatry. R4811:1

Hosea 14:2

Words -- Of contrition, promises of reformation. R2491:2

Say unto him The Lord. R2491:2

Take away all iniquity -- Israel is here represented as speaking in a repentant attitude. R2491:2

Receive us graciously -- The people of Israel have not yet asked to be received by grace--graciously; but still hope for favor by keeping the law. R4811:3

Attitude of all "Israelites indeed," natural and spiritual, in returning to God in the Gospel age. R2491:4

Which the Lord has indeed done for the members of the Bride class only, putting away their iniquity through the blood of the cross. R2491:4

The great lesson to be learned by all people is that we all need divine grace, mercy and forgiveness. R4811:3

Calves of our lips -- The fruit of our lips- our praise. R4811:3

"Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Heb. 13:15) Q343:T, R4535:1

Hosea 14:3

Asshur -- Assyria. R4811:2

Horses -- Imported from Egypt. R4811:2

The old, false, doctrinal hobbies. (See Isa. 31:1,3) C316

Work of our hands -- Christendom's confidence is in the work of their own hands--in lodges, unions, trusts, church membership, etc. "God is not in all their thoughts." (Psa. 10:4) R4811:5

Ye are our gods -- Christendom is charged with idolatry, with worshipping houses, lands, banks, stocks, bonds, name and fame. Indeed the serious charge against Christendom is that she has lost her God. R4811:5

Fatherless -- The Israelites were fatherless in the sense that they had denied the Heavenly Father. R4811:2

Those who renounce sin have neither Satan nor God as their father; but to such God proffers mercy and adoption as children. R4811:5

Only a comparatively few, a handful, know God as their Father, and are known of him as his children. R4811:5

Hosea 14:4

I will heal -- After the time of trouble is past. A256

Israel, in the beginning of Messiah's reign. R4811:3

The Lord forgives our trespasses and assists us when we realize our wrong condition and appeal for help. R5598:3

The hand that smote will be turned to heal. A256

The Lord's answer to Israel's repentant words of verses 2 and 3. R2491:4

Freely -- Unmeritedly. R2491:4

Turned away from him -- Spiritual Israel is not received of Jehovah as a woman, but as a man--Jesus, the Head; the Church, his Body. R2491:4

Hosea 14:5

As the dew -- Refreshment. R2491:4

He shall grow -- Thrive. R2491:4

His true Israel, The Christ. R2491:4

As the lily -- Whose growth in Palestine is remarkable. R2491:4

Roots as Lebanon -- The trees of Mt. Lebanon have very sturdy roots. R2491:4

Hosea 14:6

As the olive tree -- Everlasting. R2491:5

Verses 5 and 6 picture the development and establishment of the true Israel, The Christ. R2491:4

Hosea 14:7

Shall return -- Have restitution, for natural Israel and all nations in the Millennium. R2491:5

Scent -- Rendered "remembrance" in Deut. 32:26 and "memorial" in Esther 9:28. R2125:3

Hosea 14:8

Ephraim -- Christendom. D22

Literally, the ten-tribe kingdom; symbolically, nominal Churchianity. R2491:5

Any more with idols -- The idolatry of money, etc. B139

I have heard him -- The great Prophet, The Christ (Acts 3:22) R2491:5

And observed him -- Obeyed him. R2491:5

A green fir tree -- An evergreen tree, symbolically representative of the possession of everlasting life. R2491:5

From me -- In me. R2491:5

Is thy fruit -- Character development. E206

The fruits of the spirit. E206; R2491:5

Hosea 14:9

Who is wise -- It is necessary first that the transgressor shall come to a realization of his own need and abandon sin. R4811:5

"The (truly) wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand." (Dan. 12:10) R2491:5

Not by earthly wisdom and intelligence, but by being taught of the Lord. R2491:5

Leeser's translation of this verse: "Who is wise that he may understand these things? intelligent that he may know them? For righteous are the ways of the Lord. and the just shall walk in them (understand them), but the transgressors will stumble through them (misapprehend them)." R2491:5

Transgressors shall fall -- This scripture has no reference to the subject of temperance, but closes with an exhortation to fallen Israel to return to the Lord. R1444:5

There is no place on the highway of holiness, the highway of divine mercy, love, forgiveness and peace, for transgressors, those who knowingly and willingly go contrary to the divine will. R4811:5