Israel : nor can we doubt but that it has a prophetical meaning in reference to our blessed Lord. And I think the whole analogy of Scripture justifies us in affixing to it also a mystical meaning, in reference to the Church of God in all ages.
In accordance with this view, let us consider,
I. Its historical import, as relating to the Jewish
people — The prophet is reproving the ten tribes for their ingratitude to God ; and in the words before us he shews them what signal mercies God had vouchsafed to them, from the earliest period of their existence.
" He had loved Israel when a child" —
[When Israel were yet but few in number, God had loved them ; yea, when their great ancestor was yet in the womb, God had shewn to him his distinguishing grace and mercy; choosing him, whilst Esau, the elder brother, was rejected3. If they looked for the true cause of this, they would find it in God, and in God alone ; who had chosen them of his own sovereign will and pleasure, and " had loved them purely and solely because he would love themV Nothing could ex- ceed their weakness or unworthiness, at the instant when God brought them into covenant with himself0 : and therefore they were bound to bear this in remembrance, and to requite this love with a total surrender of themselves to God.]
He had brought them out of Egypt with a mighty
hand —
[God had set them apart as a peculiar people for himself. And, in demanding their liberation from Pharaoh, he honoured them with the name of " his son, his first-born d." And vain was Pharaoh's opposition to his will. By ten successive plagues, God subdued that proud monarch ; and on the very day that had been foretold four hundred and thirty years be- fore, brought them forth with a mighty hand and a stretched- out arm : not so much as one was left behind : and this has been referred to, by all the inspired writers, as the most won- derful display of power and grace that ever was vouchsafed to any creatures since the foundation of the world.]
But let us view,
II. Its prophetical import, as relating to our blessed
Lord —
a Mai. i. 2, 3. '» Deut. vii. 7, 8.
c Ezek. xvi. 6. ll Exod. iv. 22, 2.3.