This is to show the great patience of God toward his people:1 For God was now about to reject his people utterly, from being his people, God was about to come with the height of his wrath, to declare that they were no more his people; and here God makes a stop, stays till Lo•ruhamah was weaned, I have read of the Jews, that their manner was to be a long time, three years sometimes, before they weaned their children. God then it seems stayed long here, before he would have the third child, (that is Loammi) born, before he would come with that dreadful sentence, you are not my people, and I will not be your God. First when Jezreel was born, then they are scattered up and down, yea but they are not all carried away captive yet: Then Lo-ruhamah is born, and then they are gone, carried away captive, never to return again. But for all this, God may yet own them in their captivity; This is not so bad as for God to say I will have no more to do with you as my people; Lord though we be under affliction, under the power of our enemies, own us still, acknowledge us to be thine, though we be in the fiery furnace, yet let us have thee to be our God, No (saith God) you shall not only be scattered, but you shall be all carried away captive, and I will not own you neither, I will cast you off, you shall not be my people, neither will I be your God. Now before this God makes a stop.
This is to shew the great patience of God toward his people:1 For God was now about to reject his people utterly, from being his people, God was about to come with the height of his wrath, to declare that they were no more his people; and here God makes a stop, stays till Lo•ruhamah was weaned, I have read of the Jewes, that their manner was to be a long time, three yeeres sometimes, before they weaned their children. God then it seemes stayed long here, before he would have the third childe, (that is Loammi) born, before he would come with that dreadful sentence, you are not my people, and I will not be your God. First when Jezreel was born, then they are scattered up and down, yea but they are not all carried away captive yet: Then Lo-ruhamah is born, and then they are gone, carried away captive, never to return again. But for all this, God may yet own them in their captivity; This is not so bad as for God to say I will have no more to do with you as my people; Lord though we be under affliction, under the power of our enemies, own us still, acknowledge us to be thine, though we be in the fiery furnace, yet let us have thee to be our God, No (saith God) you shall not onely be scattered, but you shall be all carried away captive, and I will not own you neither, I will cast you off, you shall not be my people, neither will I be your God. Now before this God makes a stop.
- 1Quest. Ans.