Hosea 14:4

I will heal their backslidings,.... This and what follows is the Lord's answer to the above prayer; and this clause particularly is an answer to that petition, "take away all iniquity", Hosea 14:2;

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely - God's gracious reply to their self-condemning prayer.

I will heal: it is a usual metaphor in Scripture; sin is our disease. God is the Physician who healeth us, ; and he doth it through Christ, in whom this promise is made to returning backsliders. This promise God maketh by his prophet, to encourage them to hearken to his advice of repenting. Backslidings; aversions, voluntary and wilful turning away from God; well expressed here, and called rebellions by some other interpreters. These voluntary, continued, and obstinate aversions, or backslidings, are instances of greatest sins and sinners; yet God promiseth to heal these old putrefying sores, that we might be assured that he will heal all other lesser wounds: he will fully heal by pardoning and purifying. I will love them; though before he hated, could take no pleasure in them, now he will show that his mind and heart are towards them to accept them, and do them good. Freely; without their desert, and without bounds of time, or measure, or kind. All kinds of mercies the fruit of his love, infinite mercy in grace and glory, eternal mercies, his love will afford to them. This is liberal love indeed, this promised here. For mine anger is turned away from him; I am reconciled to them, my displeasure is turned away.

Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.Ver. 4. I will heal their backslidings] Relapses, we know, are dangerous, and apostasy little less than incurable, 2 Peter 2:20-21 Hebrews 6:6. Bishop Latimer, in a sermon before King Edward VI, tells of one notorious backslider that repented; but beware of this sin, saith he, for I have known no more but one that did so. To fall forward is nothing so dangerous as to fall backward, with old Eli. Hence Paul so thundereth against the Galatians, and Peter against apostatizing libertines, 2 Peter 2:22; but if Jehovah the physician (as he is called, Exodus 15:26) undertake the cure, and say, I will heal their backslidings, what can hinder? Christ, in the Gospel, cured the most desperate diseases; such as all the physicians in the country might have cast their caps at, Matthew 4:23-24; Matthew 8:16. Omnipotenti medico nullus insanabilis occurrit morbus (Isidor.). He refused none that came to him, Matthew 12:15, no, not his enemies, as Malchus. Will he then reject his Ephraim, a child, bemoaning himself, though not a pleasant child, a towardly son, Jeremiah 31:18; Jeremiah 31:20, a backslider indeed, but such a one, as crieth now, that God bindeth him, Job 36:13. No sooner doth God cry, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, I will love you freely"; but Ephraim, melted with such a love, replieth, "Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God," Jeremiah 3:22. O most happy compliance! See the like Zechariah 13:9. "They shall return even to the Lord" (from whom they had deeply revolted), "and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them," Isaiah 19:22. They had begged of him to take away all iniquity, Hosea 14:2; and he here (in answer) promiseth to heal their backslidings, that compound of all iniquities, that falling sickness, that often hales hell at the heels of it, Hebrews 10:38. I will love them freely] Ephraim might remember, and Satan would be sure to suggest, that the prophet had said before, "Ephraim is smitten or wounded, My God will cast them away, or hate them, Mine anger is kindled against them," Hosea 8:5; Hosea 9:16-17. Here, therefore, upon their repentance, all this is graciously taken off in one breath, and Satan silenced. Be it that they are backslidden and sore wounded by their fall; I will heal their backslidings, and make their broken bones to rejoice. Be it that there is nothing at all in them that is laudable, or loveworthy, yet I will love them freely, ex mero motu, of mine own free, absolute, and independent grace and favour, out of pure and unexcited love, without any the least respect to their merit, which in nothing better than hell.

(4) Heal . . . Love.—If the foregoing be the offering of penitent lips, then the majestic reply of Jehovah is full of superlative grace.

Verse 4. I will heal their backsliding] Here is the answer of God to these prayers and resolutions. See its parts: - 1. Ye have backslidden and fallen, and are grievously and mortally wounded by that fall; but I, who am the Author of life, and who redeem from death, will heal all these wounds and spiritual diseases. 2. I will love them freely - נדבה nedabah, after a liberal, princely manner. I will love them so as to do them incessant good. It shall not be a love of affection merely, but shall be a beneficial love. A love that not only feels delight in itself, but fills them with delight who are its objects, by making them unutterably and supremely happy. 3. For mine anger is turned away from him - Because he has turned back to me. Thus God and man become friends.

I will heal their backsliding - God, in answer, promises to “heal” that wound of their souls, from where every other evil came, their fickleness and unsteadfastness. Hitherto, this had been the characteristic of Israel.

4-8. The sentiments expressed in Hosea 14:1-3, are essentially different from those expressed in Hosea 6:1-3.