Changes in God's Ways with Us
Jeremiah Burroughs. Hosea 2:9 Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof… "Therefore will I return," that is, I will change the way of My administrations toward them; I will go out of My way of mercy, and turn into My way of judgment; I will go back again. "I will take away My corn in the time thereof." That is in the very time of harvest and vintage. "And will recover My wool." I will snatch it away; I will spoil you of it. I will recover it out of the hands of usurpers. Or those creatures, corn, wine, wool, are now in bondage to you, and I will recover them out of your hands. Observe — 1. Though God gives mercy out of free grace without cause in ourselves, yet He takes not away mercy without cause. 2. Sin causes God to change the way of His administrations towards His people. 3. Abuse of mercy causes the removing of mercy. 4. God keeps the propriety of all that we have. 5. The taking away the good things which we enjoy is a means Of making us return to God. 6. There is an uncertainty in all things in the world; though they promise fair, yet they are ready to fail us when they promise most. 7. God often shows His displeasure to those who provoke Him, when they are at the greatest height of prosperity. 8. When men abuse mercies, they forfeit their right in those mercies. 9. All the time the creature serves wicked men, it is in bondage, and God looks upon it with pity. 10. God gives His blessings to us, not for luxury, but for necessity, 11. When abundance is abused, it is just with God that we should want necessaries. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness. WEB: Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my new wine in its season, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness.