John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent , and he shall know them ? etc.] Contained in this book, and particularly in this chapter; which expresses so much of the goodness of God and grace of Christ to Israel; though it may be applied to the whole Scripture, and to all the mysteries and doctrines of the Gospel, respecting Christ and his grace; and be a recommendation of these to the consideration of every wise and prudent man; where he will find enough to exercise his wisdom and understanding; though he need not be discouraged in his search and inquiry into them. It suggests as if there were but few such wise persons, and that they are the only wise men that do know and understand these things; and all others are but fools, let them be thought as wise as they will: for the ways of the Lord [are] right ; straight, plain, even, according to the rules of, justice and equity; there is no unrighteousness in them; none in the ways in which he himself walks; either in his ways and methods of grace, his decrees and purposes, his counsels and covenant; or in his providential dispensations; nor in those he directs others to walk in, the paths of faith and doctrine; or the ways of his commandments: and the just shall walk in them ; such as are, justified by the righteousness of Christ, and have ills grace wrought in them, and live righteously; these walk, and continue to walk, in the ways of God; which shows that the doctrine of justification by Christ’s implored righteousness is no licentious doctrine: but the transgressors shall fall therein ; the transgressors of the law of God, not being used to his ways, as Kimchi’s father observes, stumble in them and fall; or rather, as Jarchi and the Targum, they fall into hell, into ruin and destruction, because they walk not in them; though the sense seems to be, that as Christ himself, so his ways and his word, his doctrines and his ordinances, are stumbling blocks to wicked men, at which they stumble, and fall, and perish; (see Luke 2:34) ( Romans 9:33 Peter 2:8).
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The abuse of God's favour leads to punishment. (Hos. 13:1-8) A promis of God's mercy. (Hos. 13:9-16)
Hos. 13:1-8 While Ephraim kept up a holy fear of God, and worshippe Him in that fear, so long he was very considerable. When Ephrai forsook God, and followed idolatry, he sunk. Let the men that sacrific kiss the calves, in token of their adoration of them, affection for them, and obedience to them; but the Lord will not give his glory to another, and therefore all that worship images shall be confounded. N solid, lasting comfort, is to be expected any where but in God. God no only took care of the Israelites in the wilderness, he put them in possession of Canaan, a good land; but worldly prosperity, when it feeds men's pride, makes them forgetful of God. Therefore the Lor would meet them in just vengeance, as the most terrible beast tha inhabited their forests. Abused goodness calls for greater severity.
Hos. 13:9-16 Israel had destroyed himself by his rebellion; but he could not save himself, his help was from the Lord only. This may wel be applied to the case of spiritual redemption, from that lost stat into which all have fallen by wilful sins. God often gives i displeasure what we sinfully desire. It is the happiness of the saints that, whether God gives or takes away, all is in love. But it is the misery of the wicked, that, whether God gives or takes away, it is all in wrath, nothing is comfortable. Except sinners repent and believe the gospel, anguish will soon come upon them. The prophecy of the ruin of Israel as a nation, also showed there would be a merciful and powerfu interposition of God, to save a remnant of them. Yet this was but shadow of the ransom of the true Israel, by the death, burial, an resurrection of Christ. He will destroy death and the grave. The Lor would not repent of his purpose and promise. Yet, in the mean time Israel would be desolated for her sins. Without fruitfulness in goo works, springing from the Holy Spirit, all other fruitfulness will be found as empty as the uncertain riches of the world. The wrath of God will wither its branches, its sprigs shall be dried up, it shall com to nothing. Woes, more terrible than any from the most cruel warfare shall fall on those who rebel against God. From such miseries, and from sin, the cause of them, may the Lord deliver us _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew מי4310 חכם2450 ויבן995 אלה428 נבון995 וידעם3045 כי3588 ישׁרים3477 דרכי1870 יהוה3069 וצדקים6662 ילכו1980 בם ופשׁעים6586 יכשׁלו׃3782
