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The text describes the way God takes with those offenders to whom He has "thoughts of peace and not of evil." Apply this to the spiritual Israel, to all who are called into the fold of Christ.

I. THE WAY IN WHICH THOSE WHOM GOD LOVES ARE REBUKED AND CHASTENED BY HIM. "I will allure her," etc. The wilderness was to the Israelites an emblem of affliction. It was a wilderness in which their forefathers had spent forty years of trial and chastisement. Into the wilderness of trouble the Lord brings every member of His family, both at the time of their conversion and after it. God often calls the Christian off from the path of ease and satisfaction, and makes him feel the thorns and briers of affliction, because he is loving earthly things too well, and losing sight of God, cleaving to the creature more than to the Creator. But the afflictions of God's people are not like the afflictions of the world. God does not drive His people to the wilder ness, He brings them there, — that is to say, He goes with them Himself. Believers are, in a certain sense, "allured" to trouble, for they are well assured that their Lord knows better than they do what is really good for them.

II. THE COMFORT WHICH ATTENDS GOD'S CHASTISEMENTS. "Speak comfortably to her." The Lord speaks thus to the newly awakened soul, and He has comforts for every after stage of experience. Never does He "bring them into the wilderness" of trouble but He comes down and talks with them. In distress of mind they may think God has forsaken them; but it is not so, for He is by, and full of tenderness, though He seem to deal with them severely. Soon they know and feel this, for His comforts flow into their hearts.

III. THE GOOD FRUITS WHICH FOLLOW THE AFFLICTIONS OF GOD'S PEOPLE. Vineyards from a wilderness! A crop of grapes from a barren and dry land! In the spiritual wilderness of trouble and affliction such wonders do occur. Had the sinner never smarted for his sins he never would have reaped the fruits of a Redeemer's love. The text is true with respect to all the wildernesses which the Christian enters in his pilgrimage through life. Never does he cross the desert land of trouble but he gathers fruits there. The believer is enriched by his afflictions. When the Lord straitens him in one respect, He enlarges him in another. The spiritual Achor becomes a door of hope. He expects great things from a God whose mercies and whose loving-kindnesses he has found so plenteous.

IV. THE THANKS GIVINGS WHICH GOD'S CHASTENED PEOPLE ARE SURE TO RETURN, IN THE ISSUE, UNTO HIM WHO SMOTE THEM. "She shall sing there." This first refers to the Israelites, and recalls the song at the Red Sea. Applied to the Lord's people generally, it signifies that their troubles also should-issue in a song of praise. What believer is there who would not sing, with all his heart and soul, the hymn that should bless God for his afflictions? He would never have known his joys but for his sorrows.

(A. Roberts, M. A.)

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KJV: Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

WEB: "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.