II. The exceeding riches of God's grace —
Vile as the Jews had been, he promises in our text to restore them to his favour —
[That the same persons are addressed as have been de- scribed in all the preceding context, is evident from the two verses before our text. The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin having followed the Canaanites in their abominations, it is said, that " their father was an Amorite, and their mother a Hittite." Their character is then compared with that of Samaria and of Sodom (who are called their sisters), and is said to have been worse than either a. Yet, says God, I will restore " Sodom and her daughters (i. e. the heathen world at large), and Samaria and her daughters (i. e. the ten tribes of Israel), to their former estate;" and then, " when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger, I will give them to thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant* : and I will establish my covenant with thee."
Here it is distinctly stated, that there shall be a restoration of the whole Jewish nation, together with a general conversion of the Gentiles : and that they shall be all united, not on the footing of the covenant made with the Jews on Mount Sinai, (" not by thy covenant,") but on the footing of the new " cove- nant made with them in the days of their youth," even with Abraham their father : this is the covenant which he would re-establish with them ; and according to the tenour of it he would freely forgive all their past iniquities, and restore them to the everlasting enjoyment of his favour. By this wonderful exhibition of mercy to them, " they should know assuredly that He, even Jehovah, is the only true God ;" yea moreover, that He is their God for ever and ever.
This was so very partially fulfilled at the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, that we cannot but look for a more com- plete fulfilment of it at a period yet future, but, we trust, not very remote.]
The promise however is, no doubt, to be extended to us also —
[However vile we may have been, God, if we seek him, will remember his holy covenant, and will accept us according to the tenour of it. In that covenant, provision is made for our every want. " It is ordered in all things and sure :" and it is therefore sure, because by it God gives all, and we receive all : God gives the new heart as well as pardon for past offences ; and engages to make us his people, at the time that he gives himself to us as our God. Hear how plainly all this
a ver. 45— 48, 51, 52. b ver. 53, 55, 61, 62.