2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Part One

2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Part One

2 Thessalonians 2:1 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,"

“Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”: This is the fifth mention of Christ’s coming in the Thessalonian letters (1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23). The aspect of His particular coming in view here is identified by the next phrase “our gathering together,” which conveys the idea of all believers meeting together with the Lord Jesus, obviously referring to the rapture of the church described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and John 14:1-3.

See Hebrews 10:25 for the only other use of this phrase in the New Testament. This was the event the Thessalonians were anticipating (1 Thess. 1:10; 3:13; 5:9).

“Our gathering together” is a reference to the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:17).

Paul, in this first verse, is recognizing the fact that these things are valid to believe. He is not telling them not to believe in these things. He is saying they might not be coming in just a few days. This was the stir in Thessalonica. They had decided that the second coming of Christ was to be immediately.

Paul says, I believe it too, but let us look clearer to when this shall take place. All Christians should believe in the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming for those who are looking for Him. Our "gathering together unto Him", is the same as the time when the trump of God blows in the sky, and we go to meet our Lord in the sky.

The silver trumpet of redemption (the trump of the gathering) will blow, and we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye to an incorruptible being.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand."

“Shaken” (Greek saleuo) denotes great anxiety and pain. The Thessalonians were deeply troubled about this matter.

This term has been used of an earthquake (Acts 16:26) and a ship at anchor slipping its mooring in the midst of a heavy wind. Along with the word “disturbed,” it describes the state of agitation and alarm that had griped the church they were greatly distressed because they had expected the Rapture, the gathering together to the Lord, to take place before the Day of the Lord.

They had expected to be taken to glory and heavenly rest, not left to persecution and divine wrath. Paul must have taught them that they would miss the Day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:2-5; Rev. 3:10), but they had become confused by the persecution they were experiencing, thinking they may have been in the Day of the Lord.

This error had been reinforced by some messages to them claiming that they were indeed in the Day of the Lord. Paul noted the source of these as “spirit,” “message,” and letter.” A “spirit” would most likely refer to a false prophet claiming divine revelation as in 1 John 4:1-3. A “message” would refer to a sermon or speech given, while a “letter” indicated a written report.

The powerful by harmful effect of this false information was gained by claiming it was from the Apostle Paul (“as if from us”). Whoever was telling them they were in the Day of the Lord claimed that it came from Paul who heard, it, preached it, and wrote it. Thus their lie was given supposed apostolic sanction.

The result was shock, fear, and alarm. Obviously, they had expected the Rapture before the Day of the Lord. For if they had expected it after, they would have rejoiced because Christ’ coming was to be soon. Apostolic authenticity in this letter which corrects the error was important and account for Paul’s care to close the letter in his distinctive handwriting (3:7; Gal 6:11).

“As that the day of Christ is at hand” (literally “as though the day of Christ is present”): These people thought the day of the Lord had already begun.

The idea that the Day of the Lord had already come conflicted with what Paul had previously taught them about the Rapture. This error, which so upset the Thessalonians, is what Paul corrected in verses 3-12, where he showed that the day hadn’t come and couldn’t until certain realities were in place, most especially “the man of lawlessness” (verse 3).

This is the purpose of the letter. They had decided that His coming would be in the next few days or weeks, and they had been shaken in their spirit because of this. We do know that for each person there is no more than 100 years to wait, because if they go the way of the grave, they die within 100 years.

This really is not speaking of that. This is the fact that they were expecting Him to come while they were alive, and were setting a time schedule on this. They were overly excited thinking the time was really soon. It is dangerous to set times.

Verses 3-4: “Falling away” (the apostasy): the Day of the Lord cannot occur until a deliberate abandonment of a formerly professed position, allegiance, or commitment occurs (the term was used to refer to military, political or religious rebellion). Some have suggested, on questionable linguistic evidence that this refers to “departure” in the sense of the Rapture.

Context, however, points to a religious defection, which is further described in verse 4. The language indicates a specific event, not general apostasy which exists now and always will. Rather, Paul has in mind the apostasy. This is an event which is clearly and specifically identifiable and unique, the consummate act of rebellion, and event of final magnitude.

The key to identifying the event is to identify the main person, which Paul does, calling him the “man of lawlessness.” Some texts have “man of sin,” but there is no real difference in meaning since sin equals lawlessness (1 John 3:4). This is the one who is called “the prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26) and “the little horn” (Dan. 7-8) who John calls “the beast” (Rev. 13:2-10, 18) and most know as the Antichrist.

The context and language clearly identify a real person in future times who actually does the things prophesied of him in Scripture. He is also called “the son of perdition” or destruction, a term used of Judas Iscariot (John 17:12). This “apostasy” is the abomination of desolation that takes place at the midpoint of the Tribulation, spoken of in Dan. 9:27; 11:3 and Matt. 24:15).

This man is not Satan, although Satan is the force behind him (verse 9) and he has motives like the desires of the devil (14:13-14). Paul is referring to the very act of ultimate apostasy which reveals the final Antichrist and sets the course for the events that usher in the Day of the Lord.

Apparently, he will be seen as supportive of religion so that God and Christ will not appear as his enemies until the apostasy. He exalts himself and opposes God by moving into the temple, the place for worship of God, declaring him to be God and demanding the worship of the world. In this act of satanic self-deification, he commits the great apostasy in defiance of God.

For the first 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation, he maintains relations with Israel, but halts those (Dan. 9:27); and for the last 3-1/2 years, there is a great tribulation under his reign (Dan. 7:25; 11:36-39; Matt. 24:15-21; Rev. 13:1-8) culminating with the Day of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

“Falling away” (Greek apostasia) is the great and final apostasy or repudiation of the Christian faith that will occur at the appearance of “the son of perdition (the Antichrist) (1 Tim. 5:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).

“Man of sin” (some manuscripts read “man of lawlessness”): This is the beast out of the sea (Rev. 13:1), the little horn (Dan. 7:8), and the false Christ who will aim to rule the world (Rev. 13:15-17). This is the Antichrist.

The word “apostasy” means “a standing away from” in the sense of a falling away, withdrawal, or defection from the truth. It may be the result of persecution (Matt. 24:9-10), false teachers (Matt. 24:11), temptation (Luke 8:13), worldliness (2 Tim 4:4), inadequate knowledge of Christ (1 John 2:19), moral lapse (Heb. 6:4-6), forsaking spiritual living and worship (Heb. 10:25-31), or unbelief (Heb. 3:12).

While there are those in every generation who fall away, this will be a general condition prior to the revelation of the Antichrist. In classical Greek, the word apostasy was used of a revolt staged by a military commander.

This "apostasy", spoken of here, as a falling away from the church was not evident then, but is certainly going on today in the church. Before the coming of the Lord, there will be a great falling away from the church. The son of perdition, here, is speaking of the devil spirit in the antichrist. This is speaking of the man of perdition bringing sin in the church.

Judas Iscariot was spoken of as son of perdition. This does not mean that it is Judas. It means someone who has sold out to Satan. He is totally controlled by Satan. The reason people will listen to, and follow this man of sin, is that he will do wonders. The Bible says he will even be able to call down fire from heaven.

You may read about this in the 13th chapter of Revelation. I personally believe this man of sin has already begun his nasty work.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

“Sitteth in the temple of God” parallels the “abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). When the Antichrist desecrates the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, he will usurp worship for himself.

If he is not for Christ, he is antichrist. This has been the old devil's trick ever since Lucifer was thrown out of heaven. He wanted to be greater than God. He always appeals to the ego of man. His trick with Eve was telling her the fruit of the tree would make her wise like God. He lied then, and he has lied to the antichrist as well. He uses people vulnerable to believe his lies.

The antichrist is not satisfied with being opposed to Christ, but actually wants to sit in the place of God in the temple. He appears as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

There are several opinions of where he will be seated; some believe in the temple in Jerusalem, others believe that he will take his place as the authority in the church of the Christians. Paul many times spoke of the believers in Christ as the temple of God. We do know that a Moslem temple presently sits over the location of the temple in Jerusalem.

One, or all of these things, perhaps, will happen. It really does not matter. Our job is to be so full of the Word of God that we will not be deceived into believing the antichrist. It is a dangerous thing to want to be God.

2 Thessalonians 2:5 " Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"

“I told you”: The imperfect tense is used indicating repeated action in past time. Apparently, Paul on numerous occasions had taught them the details of God’s future plans. Here, he reminded them of the issues which proved the false teachers wrong about the Day of the Lord.

Paul had before told them that the revealing of the Antichrist preceded the Day of the Lord; since he has not yet been revealed they could not possibly be in that Day.

Paul is reminding them that he had preached about these very things, when he was with them. It is a wonderful thing to be looking for the soon coming of the Lord, but it is a bad thing to let it trouble you. Paul is saying, shame on you for not realizing that God will see you through whatever situation you find yourself in, if you will put your trust in Him.

Verses 6-7: “Ye know what withholdeth” literally means “restrains,” the same word translated “letteth” in verse 7. The restrainer is the Holy Spirit, who will restrain sin throughout the church age until “He be taken out of the way,” that is until His restraining influence is removed. This will occur at the Rapture of the church remember that we Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit when the church is raptured the Holy Spirit goes with us.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."

“Withholdeth”: While the Thessalonians already had been taught and thus knew what was restraining the coming of the Antichrist, Paul does not say specifically in this letter; thus many suggestions have been made to identify the restraining force of verses 6-7.

These include: (1) human government; (2) preaching of the gospel; (3) the binding of Satan; (4) the providence of God; (5) the Jewish state; (6) the church; (7) the Holy Spirit; and (8) Michael.

Whatever now restrains the Antichrist of verses 3-4, 8-10 from being revealed in the fullness of his apostasy and evil, must be more than human or even angelic power. The power that holds back Satan from bringing the final apostasy and unveiling of his Satan-possessed false Christ must be divinely supernatural.

It must be God’s power in operation that holds back Satan, so that the man of sin, the son of destruction, won’t be able to come until God permits it by removing the restraining power. The reason for the restraint was so that Antichrist would be revealed at God’s appointed time and no sooner, just as was Christ (Gal. 4:4) because God controls Satan.

God has a time schedule when all of these things will happen. The man of sin cannot appear and do these things, until the Lord gives him permission to go ahead. Satan cannot do anything without permission from God to do it. Satan is not in control, the Lord is. The antichrist will appear on the scene, when God gets ready for him to and not one minute earlier.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way."

“The mystery of iniquity’: This is the spirit of lawlessness already prevalent in society (1 John 3-4; 5:17), but still a mystery in that it is not fully revealed as it will be in the one who so blatantly opposes God that he blasphemously assumes the place of God on earth which God has reserved for Jesus Christ.

The spirit of such a man is already in operation (1 John 2:18; 4:30, but the man who fully embodies that spirit has not come.

“Taken out of the way”: This refers not to spatial removal but rather “a stepping aside.” The idea is “out of the way,” not gone (Col. 2:14 where our sins are taken out of the way as a barrier to God.

We know this to be true, because we know that the spirit of the devil entered into Judas Iscariot, and he betrayed Jesus. There has always been a battle going on with good and evil ever since the Garden of Eden. Man has a free will. He can follow Jesus, or he can follow Satan.

The antichrist would not have to be the antichrist, if he would follow Jesus. The antichrist has chosen to be an instrument of Satan. The flesh of mankind has always been opposed to the spirit of mankind. The temptations of the flesh are what cause mankind to sin. The free will of mankind chooses to follow the flesh, or the spirit.

Mystery is many times veiled around evil. We know that even Babylon is called, mystery Babylon. It is definitely a mystery why anyone would follow evil instead of good. The only answer to that is they have fallen for a deception. All who oppose Christ are antichrist, but there is a person who personifies this in the end time, and he is the antichrist.

When the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit as teacher and guide is removed, then the antichrist will bring lawlessness and sin like the world has never known. Even now this influence is working in the children of disobedience.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in this world to some extent restrains evil. Often this is accomplished through the presence of Christians who are the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). At the rapture, when the Christians are removed and the age of the Holy Spirit ceases, this restraining ministry will be “taken out of the way” then starts the Tribulation. Until that time, God will use the godly examples of Christians to restrain evil in the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"

“Then shall that Wicked be revealed” (literally, “Then shall that lawless one be revealed”): Paul argues that the day of the Lord simply does not begin until the restraint by the Holy Spirit is removed, and the Antichrist is revealed. Since none of this had occurred, the day of the Lord had not yet come.

At the divinely decreed moment just before the start of the Tribulation when God removes the divine restraint, Satan, who has been promoting the spirit of lawlessness (verse 7), is finally allowed to fulfill has desire to imitate God by indwelling a man who will perform his will as Jesus did God’s. This also fits God’s plan for the consummation of evil and the judgment of the Day of the Lord.

“The Lord shall consume”: Death occurs at God’s hand (Dan. 7:26; Rev. 17:11) and this man and his partner, the false prophet, will be cast alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone, where he will be eternally separated from God. (Rev.1:20; 20:10).

“His coming”: The aspect of His coming in view here is not the rapture of the church, but the Lord’s coming in judgment on that day when He conquers the forces of Satan and sets up his millennial kingdom (Rev. 19: 11-21).

The workings of the evil one are in the world even now, but the teaching by the Holy Spirit of God is keeping him from having the influence he would over the people. When that wicked day comes, the antichrist will have great power. He will no longer be working in secret and in a subtle way.

"The Spirit of the Lord's mouth" is the Word of God. Truth does away with deception. The Word of God is Truth. His brightness is above all other brightness in the world. He is the source of all light. His Light completely destroys darkness in the world.

Darkness cannot remain where the Light is. This Light reveals all. We have spoken over and over how evil is the darkness of this world. We, also, know that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. When these two meet, Jesus' Light does away with all darkness.

1 Timothy Chapter 3

1 Timothy Chapter 3

Verses 1-13: Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to instruct Timothy regarding the church (verses 14-15). Of primary importance to any church is that its leaders be qualified to teach and set the example for the rest. These verses delineate those qualifications for pastors and deacons (see Titus 1:5-9).
1 Timothy 3:1 "This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."
“This is a true saying” (see 1:15).
“Desire … desireth”: Two different Greek words are used. The first means “to reach out after.” It describes external action, not internal motive. The second means “a strong passion,” and refers to an inward desire. Taken together, these two words aptly describe the type of man who belongs in the ministry, one who outwardly pursues it because he is driven by a strong internal desire.
“Bishop”: The word identifies the men who are responsible to lead the church (5:17; 1 Thess. 5:12; Heb. 13:7). In the New Testament, the words “bishop,” “elder,” “overseer”, and “pastor” are used interchangeably to describe the same men (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-2).
Bishops (pastors, overseer, elders), are responsible to lead (5:17), preach and teach (5:17), help the spiritually weak (1 Thess. 5:12-14), care for the church (1 Pet. 5:1-2), and ordain other leaders (4:14).
We could render the verse as follows: “This is a reliable statement: if anyone strives for the position of overseer, he desires a noble task” (see Philippians 1:1 for “bishops” and “overseers).”
The pastor, who shepherds today’s church, also fulfills the New Testament role of elder and bishop (overseer), and is responsible to God for the spiritual welfare of the church (Acts 20:28). When Christ returns, He will judge and reward these pastors (elders), according to their faithfulness in leading the church to accomplish God’s will (1 Peter 5:4).
There are at least seven different titles for the New Testament pastor. The term elder is used over 20 times, emphasizing the pastor’s wisdom and maturity. The title bishop emphasizes the administrative function of the office. The word pastor emphasizes the responsibility of caring for the church, as a shepherd cares for the sheep.
The word preacher emphasizes the ministry of publicly proclaiming God’s Word. The title teacher emphasizes that the pastor should be “apt to teach.” The pastor is also called a servant, reminding him that he is to minister to others; and he is a steward, managing the property of others (the church of Christ).
Both Timothy and Titus were pastors of churches started by Paul, who wrote Pastoral Epistles to them.
Christians should be supportive of their pastors, as they attempt to fulfill their biblical ministry (Jer. 2:8; 1 Tim. 3:1-7).
1 Timothy 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"
“Must” The use of this Greek particle stresses emphatically that living a blameless life is necessary for church leaders.
“Blameless”: Literally “not able to be held” in a criminal sense; there is no valid accusation of wrongdoing that can be made against him. No overt, flagrant sin can mar the life of one who must be an example for this people to follow (verse 10; 4:16; 5:7; Psalm 101:6; Philippians 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 5:3).
This is the overarching requirement for elders. The rest of the qualifications elaborate on what it means to be blameless. Titus (1:6-7), uses another Greek word to mean the same thing.
“The husband of one wife”: Literally in Greek a “one woman man.” This says nothing about marriage or divorce (for comments on that see verse 4). The issue is not the elder’s marital status, but his moral and sexual purity. This qualification heads the list, because it is in this area that leaders are most prone to fail.
Various interpretations of this qualification have been offered. Some see it as a prohibition against polygamy. An unnecessary injunction since polygamy was not common in Roman society and clearly forbidden by Scripture (Gen. 2:24), the teaching of Jesus (Matt. 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9), and Paul (Eph. 5:31).
A polygamist could not even have been a church member, let alone a church leader. Others see this requirement as barring those who remarried after the death of their wives. But, as already noted, the issue is sexual purity, not marital status. Further, the Bible encourages remarriage after widowhood (5:14; 1 Cor. 7:39).
Some believe that Paul here excludes divorced men from church leadership. That again ignores the fact that this qualification does not deal with marital status. Nor does the Bible prohibit all remarriage after divorce (see Matt. 5:31-32; 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:15).
Finally, some think that this requirement excludes single men from church leadership. But if that were Paul’s intent, he would have disqualified himself (1 Cor. 7:8). A “one-woman man” is one totally devoted to his wife, maintaining singular devotion, affection and sexual purity in both thought and deed. To violate this is to forfeit blamelessness and no longer be “above reproach” (Titus 1:6-7; Proverbs 6:32-33).
“Sober”: The Greek word means “wineless,” but is here used metaphorically to mean “alert,” “watchful”, “vigilant” or “clear-headed.” Elders must be able to think clearly.
“Vigilant”: A “vigilant” man is disciplined, knows how to properly order his priorities, and is serious about spiritual matters.
“Good behavior”: The Greek word means “orderly.” Elders must not lead chaotic lives; if they cannot order their own lives, how can they bring order to the church?
“Hospitality”: From a compound Greek word meaning “love of strangers” (see Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9). As with all spiritual virtues, elders must set the example; their lives and homes are to be open so all can see their spiritual character.
“Apt to teach”: Used only here and (in 2 Tim. 2:24). The only qualification relating to an elder’s giftedness and spiritual ability; and the only one that distinguishes elders from deacons. The preaching and teaching of God’s Word is the overseer/pastor/elder’s primary duty (4:6, 11, 13; 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15, 24; Titus 2:1).
We see that the leader of the church must be someone who has a very high moral character. "Vigilant" means sober. The reason sober is mentioned twice is, possibly, because it means to be sober in spirit and in flesh.
Given to hospitality is a description of what every Christian should be. You may read of this (in Romans chapter 12 beginning with verse 5). To teach the Word of God is a high calling. The great powers in this world are the written and the spoken Word of God.
1 Timothy 3:3 "Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;"
“Not given to wine”: More than a mere prohibition against drunkenness (see Eph. 5:18). An elder must not have a reputation as a drinker; his judgment must never be clouded by alcohol (Prov. 31:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:12), his lifestyle must be radically different from the world and lead others to holiness, not sin (Rom. 14:21; see 5:23).
“No striker” means not physically violent. Literally not a giver of blows. Elders must react to difficult situations calmly and gently (2 Tim. 2:24-25).
Not greedy” means not fond of dishonest gain. Literally, “not a lover of money”: His main priority is not the acquisition of money. Materialism ill befits one called above all to care for the spiritual welfare of souls.
“Patient” means not quarrelsome, peaceable; that is, does not argue over minor matters or always seeks to have his way. But defers to the wishes of others when no cardinal doctrine or policy is sacrificed.
“Patient”: “Peaceful,” “reluctant to fight”; one who does not promote disunity or disharmony.
“Not a brawler”: Considerate, genial, gracious, quick to pardon failure, and one who does not hold a grudge.
“Not covetous,” These are more things showing that the character of the leader of the church must be an example to the members. Strong drink causes the person drinking to not be able to make sound judgments. Some of the things here mentioned come from losing control of your own will.
Elders must be motivated by love for God and His people, not money (Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:2). A leader who is in the ministry for money reveals a heart set on the world, not the things of God (Matt. 6:24; 1 John 2:15). Covetousness characterizes false teachers (1Titus 1:11; 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 14; Jude 11), but not Paul’s ministry (Acts 20:33; 1 Cor. 9:1-16; 2 Cor. 11:9; 1 Thess. 2:5).
We should be careful to note (not greedy for filthy lucre). Greed for money has been the downfall of many. To covet is specifically spoken against in the 10 commandments. When you want anything that belongs to someone else, you are coveting.
Fighting should not be part of the minister's vocabulary. These things go against a tender kind, patient spirit that the minister needs.
1 Timothy 3:4 "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;"
“One that ruleth well his own house”: The elder’s home life, like his personal life, must be exemplary. He must be one who “manages” (presides over, has authority over), “his own household” (everything connected with his home, not merely his wife and children), “well” (intrinsically good; excellently).
Issues of divorce should be related to this matter A divorced man gives no evidence of a well-managed home, but rather that divorce shows weakness in his spiritual leadership. If there has been a biblically permitted divorce, it must have been so far in the past as to have been overcome by a long pattern of solid family leadership and the rearing of godly children (verse 4, Titus 1:6).
“In subjection”: A military term referring to soldiers ranked under one in authority. An elder’s children must be believers (see “faithful” in Titus 1:6), well-behaved, and respectful.
“Ruleth well his own house” means that he manages his family rightly. “Having his children in subjection” means that he brings about “with all gravity” (in a dignified manner), obedience in his children.
The leadership that the minister would need to lead the church members should be evident in the home, as well. Children obey your parents. Parents, make your children obey you.
1 Timothy 3:5 "(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)"
“Take care of the church of God”: An elder must first prove in the intimacy and exposure of his own home his ability to lead others to salvation and sanctification. There he proves God has gifted him uniquely to spiritually set the example of virtue, to serve others, resolve conflicts, build unity and maintain love.
If he cannot do those essential things there, why would anyone assume he would be able to do them in the church?
Paul’s reasoning is from the lesser to the greater: a man poorly managing his own family is incapable of giving proper leadership to the church family.
This just means that someone who cannot take care of his own personal affairs should not be the leader of the church, because he has proven that he is not leadership material.
1 Timothy 3:6 "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."
Not a novice … lifted up with pride”: Putting a new convert into a leadership role would tempt him to pride. Elders, therefore, are to be drawn from the spiritually mature men of the congregation (see 5:22).
“Fall into the condemnation of the devil”: Satan’s condemnation was due to pride over his position. It resulted in his fall from honor and authority (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-19; Prov. 16:18). The same kind of fall and judgment could easily happen to a new and weak believer put in a position of spiritual leadership.
“Not a novice:” He is not a new convert or young Christian. We may render the last part of the verse: “lest, being conceited, he fall into judgment incurred by the Devil.” As Satan fell through pride, similarly a neophyte could be ruined by pride after being promoted to leadership too swiftly.
This would be someone who had not been grounded in the Word of God. This would be someone who wanted this job for the power to rule over others.
A novice means newly planted. A tree that has been recently planted does not have deep solid roots. The roots that are necessary to lead a church would be grounded solidly in the Word of God. Winds of false doctrine would not be able to uproot him, because he would be solidly planted (over much time), in the teachings of the Word of God.
Lucifer fell to the temptation of pride. This is possibly, what is meant here.
1 Timothy 3:7 "Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
“A good report”: A leader in the church must have an unimpeachable reputation in the unbelieving community, even though people there may disagree with his moral and theological stands. How can he make a spiritual impact on those who do not respect him? (Matthew 5:48; Phil. 2:15).
The overseer must not be the object of justified criticism (Luke 6:26), by non-Christians (“them that are without”). Otherwise, he is likely to become a target for “reproach” or “disgrace”, “and the snare” sprung by “the devil.”
“The devil goes around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. All eyes will be on the leader of the church. The leader of the church must live without even giving the appearance of evil. Any misconduct upon the part of the leader, opens the gate for the devil to deceive the members.
Paul had said before, to follow him as he followed Jesus. This should be the pattern of all who minister. They should live a life free from sin.



Verses 8-13: The word deacon derives from a Greek word for servant; hence, the deacons are a serving office in the church. In order to free the apostles for the more important duties of prayer and ministry of the Word, seven men were appointed to care for the church. These are generally thought to have been deacons (Acts 6:1-4).
While there is no “job description” for a servant, the nature of a deacon’s qualifications gives insight into his duties (Acts 6:1-8; 1 Tim. 3:8-13).
The first deacons performed routine labors in the church, and were responsible for promoting harmony among various groups within the assembly. Deacons may also have served in an advisory capacity, and they engaged in spiritual ministries, including preaching and church planting.
In one sense, every Christian should act like a deacon in encouraging church harmony and helping others serve Christ more effectively (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; Eph. 4:11).
1 Timothy 3:8 "Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;"
“Deacons”: from a word group meaning “to serve”. Originally referring to menial tasks such as waiting on tables (see Acts 6:1-4), “deacon” come to denote any service in the church.
Deacons serve under the leadership of elders, helping them exercise oversight in the practical matters of church life. Scripture defines no official or specific responsibilities for deacons; they are to do whatever the elders assign them or whatever spiritual ministry is necessary.
“Must be grave”: Serious in mind and character; not silly or flippant about important matters and worthy of respect.
“Not double-tongued” means saying the same thing to one party as to the other. Their speech must not be hypocritical, but honest and consistent.
“Not given to much wine”: Not preoccupied with drink (see verse 3).
“Not greedy of filthy lucre” means not being fond of dishonest financial profits. The same word is used (in verse 3). Deacons must not abuse their office to make money. Such a qualification was especially important in the early church, where deacons routinely handled money, distributing it to those in need.
When we think of someone who is double tongued, we think of a two-faced person. They are unstable in all of their ways. They cannot be trusted, because they say whatever is convenient to say at the time, whether it is true or not. We see from the description above that this person needs to be in full control of his thoughts at all-time (not given too much drink).
Greed certainly must not be a character trait of a deacon. One of the jobs of the deacon of the church is to see to the financial needs of the church. The minister should not be involved with raising money for the church to function on. That is the job of the deacon.
The minister should be interested in the souls of the people. His time should be spent in prayer and the study of the Word of God. He is like the shepherd who sees to the need of the flock.
1 Timothy 3:9 "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."
“The mystery” (see Matt. 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:4-5). Appearing frequently in Paul’s writings (Rom. 11:25; 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:9; 6:19; Col. 2:2), the word “mystery”, describes truth previously hidden, but now revealed truth in the Word of God.
Including Christ’s incarnation (verse 16), Christ’s indwelling of believers (Cor. 1:26-27), the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church (Eph. 3:4-6), the gospel (Col. 4:3), lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:7), and the rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
“A pure conscience” (see 1:5).
“Holding the mystery of the faith:” As capable apologists and defenders, deacons must preserve the truth as God revealed it.
What is a mystery? Something not understood. We know that Jesus opened our understanding to the mystery of God, when He sent the Holy Spirit to instruct us into all Truth. A Christian with a clear conscience is one who is allowing Christ in them to live through them.
A pure conscience is one not worried over whether you are doing right, or wrong. You know you are doing right, because you have turned your will over to the Lord.
1 Timothy 3:10 "And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless."
“First be proved”: The present tense of this verb indicates an ongoing evaluation of deacons’ character and service by the church.
“Found blameless” (see verse 2).
The verse may be translated, “and let these too, first be examined; then let them serve as deacon, if found blameless.” This probably refers not to a probationary period, but to an examination of the required qualities of character. The word “too” implies that this requirement applies also to overseers (elders).
Some ministers will not let anyone serve as a deacon, until they have attended their church for several years. This is so they can get to know them, and find out how they react in time of crisis. The deacon must be of very high moral character. He must be of such a nature that he will be an upright representative of the church.
Before he is given this office there must be an examination of his character so there will not be something come up unexpected in the future. When found of high moral character, and then he should be awarded the job of deacon.
1 Timothy 3:11 "Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things."
Paul likely here refers not to deacons’ wives, but to the women who serve as deacons. The use of the word “likewise” (verse 8), suggests a third group in addition to elders and deacons. Also, since Paul gave no requirements for elders’ wives, there is no reason to assume these would be qualifications for deacons’ wives.
“Grave” (see verse 8).
“Not slanderers”: Or Malicious gossips. “Malicious gossips are a plural form of diabolos, a title frequently given to Satan (Matt. 4:5, 8, 11; 13:39; Luke 4:3, 5-6, 13; 8:12; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 2:10; 12:9, 12; 20:2, 10). The women who serve must not be slanderous and malicious in their speech.
“Sober” (see verse 2).
“Faithful in all things”: Women servants in the church, like their male counterparts (see verse 2), must be absolutely trustworthy in all aspects of their lives and ministries.
We see in this, that the entire family must be godly people for the husband to be deacon. It is always important for the husband and wife to be totally agreed, before a married person answers the call to serve God. It would be impossible to serve the way it is necessary to serve, without this agreement.
There are requirements pertaining to the entire family, when one serves the Lord. Husbands and wives are one in the flesh, so it is absolutely necessary for them to agree. They must both be of very high character.
1 Timothy 3:12 "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."
“Husbands of one wife” (see verse 2).
“Ruling their children and their own houses” (see verse 4).
Again, we see the necessity for the home to be on solid ground before one is called to serve. To be in leadership in the church, it is important to show your leadership in the family first.
1 Timothy 3:13 "For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
The verse may be translated, “For they who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and much joyful confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” This “good standing” is spiritual progress acquired by faithful church service.
It is especially important for the deacon to be bold in the Lord, since he is responsible for seeing to the needs of the church. We do know that men who are chosen out for this job have a big task to do. Their faith in Christ Jesus is extremely important. They must believe in the work that is going on, to be able to feel free to work to keep it going.



Verses 14-16: These verses mark a transition point between the positive instruction of the first 3 chapters and the warnings of the last 3. They reveal the heart of the church’s mission (verse 15), and message (verse 16).
In (verses 14-15): “Hoping to come unto thee shortly”: The Greek grammar suggests Paul’s meaning is “These things I write, although I had hoped to come to you sooner.” Delayed in Macedonia, Paul sent Timothy this letter.
1 Timothy 3:14 "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:"
Paul loved Timothy, and really wanted to be with him. We think why did Paul not go, if he wanted to? The answer is that Paul followed the will of God, not what he desired to do in the flesh.
1 Timothy 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
“How thou oughtest to behave thyself”: The second half of this verse expresses the theme of this epistle, setting things right in the church.
“House of God”: Believers are members of God’s household (Gal 6:10; Eph. 2:19; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 4:17), and must act accordingly. This is not a reference to any building, but to the people who make up the true church.
“Church of the living God”: The church is God’s possession (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:9). The title “the living God” has a rich Old Testament heritage (Deut. 5:26; Josh. 3:10; 1 Sam. 17:26, 36; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Psalms 42:4; 84:2; Isa. 37:4, 17; Jer. 10:10; 23:26; Dan 6:20, 26; Hos. 1:10).
“Pillar and ground”: The word translated “support” appears only here in the New Testament and denotes the foundation on which a building rests. The church upholds the truth of God’s revealed Word.
“The truth”: The content of the Christian faith recorded in Scripture and summed up (in verse 16).
If Paul should delay (“tarry long”), in visiting Timothy, this epistle instructs him how he must “behave” himself “in the house of God.” That is, how to properly order his personal conduct in the church, and how to manage church affairs as a leader.
Timothy must comply with Paul’s directions because “the church’ belongs to “God” and is “the pillar” [support] “and ground” [foundation] “of the truth”. If church members and affairs do not conform to the standards set forth in this epistle, the bulwark of the truth (the church), will be seriously undermined.
Paul was aware that he might not be able to go and tell Timothy personally all the things he wanted him to know. The letter would bring instructions to this young minister from his teacher, Paul. We see in this letter, that the meeting place of the believers in Christ was spoken of as the church of the living God.
The Word "living" says a lot in itself. It means that Christians believe the Lord Jesus Christ is alive. We believe he rose from the grave. Paul is explaining to Timothy that he must behave in such a way as to be an example for the others on how they should live. The church is to be the pillar and the truth in this world.
1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
This verse contains part of an early church hymn, as its uniformity, rhythm, and parallelism indicate. Its 6 lines from a concise summary of the truth of the gospel.
“Mystery of godliness”: “Mystery” is that term used by Paul to indicate truth hidden in the Old Testament age and revealed in the New Testament (see verse 9). “Godliness” refers to the truths of salvation and righteousness in Christ, which produce holiness in believers; namely, the manifestation of true and perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ.
“God … manifest”: This reference is clearly to Christ, who manifested the invisible God to mankind (John 1-4; 14:9; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:16-18).
“In the flesh”: Not sinful, fallen human nature here (Rom. 17:18, 25; 8:8; Gal. 5:16-17), but merely humanness (John 1:14; Rom. 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7).
“Justified in the Spirit”: “Justified” means “righteous”, so that “spirit” may be written with lower case “S”, indicating a declaration of Christ’s sinless spiritual righteousness (John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 5:9; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:21-22; 1 John 2:1), or it could refer to His vindication by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:4).
“Preached unto the Gentiles” (see Matt. 24:14; 26:13; 28:19-20; Mark 13:10; Acts 1:8).
“Received up into glory” (see Acts 1:9-10; Phil. 2:8-11; Heb. 1:3). Christ’s ascension and exaltation showed that the Father was pleased with Him and accepted His work fully.
Should he fail to do so, the heralding of the Christian faith will be hindered. “God was manifest in the flesh:” Jesus was revealed in human form. “Justified in the Spirit:” The Holy
Spirit vindicated Jesus in that His true nature was disclosed and His messianic claims substantiated.
“Seen of angels”: They witnessed Jesus’ whole earthly career. “Preached unto the Gentiles:” The gospel of Jesus has been proclaimed to the nations. “Believed on in the world:” Multitudes have accepted the gospel by trusting in Jesus. “Received up into glory:” Jesus was divinely taken back into heaven.
The mystery of godliness was revealed by Jesus Christ to His followers. The veil to the Scriptures was removed. The Spirit of God opens the understanding of the believers to the godliness, which is still a mystery to those of the world who do not accept Jesus as Savior.
God the Word took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. His body was crucified on the cross for our sins. He preached the good news of the gospel 40 days on the earth before He went back to heaven. In the book of Acts we read about his heavenward journey.
Acts 1:9-11 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
The great promise, to me, is what the angels told the disciples as they saw Him going up.
"And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;" "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:8

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:8

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Rev. 12:8

and prevailed not... Greek: ischuo. Translated "prevail" (Rev. 12:8; Acts 19:16, 19:20) "be able" (Luke 13:24; 14:29-30; John 21:6; Acts 6:10; 15:10); "be of strength" (Heb. 9:17); "avail" (Gal. 5:6; 6:15; Jas. 5:16); and several other ways.

The vision of war in heaven anticipates Satan's exclusion from "heaven" and his restriction to the earth during the last half of the Great Tribulation, so that Satan must thereafter confine his activities to the earthly sphere. Michael the archangel is the leader of God's holy angels (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9).

found any more... I believe there is an order of command in heaven as there is here on the earth. We see here, that not only the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is being attacked here on the earth, but that there is war in heaven as well. Here we see the defeat of Satan to such an extent that he is not allowed in heaven any more, not even to accuse the believers.
His defeat on the earth is complete as well. His doom was sealed when Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected.

The outcome of the war was that Satan was hurled to the earth, and his character was clearly revealed in the various titles ascribed to him: the great dragon… that ancient serpent… the devil or Satan. With him went the fallen angels of the demon world.

While the concept of Satan in heaven is difficult to comprehend, it is clear that he is now the accuser of saints (cf. Job 1:6; Rev. 12:10).

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:7

My Sheep Hear My Voice-Rev. 12:7

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Rev. 12:7

War in Heaven

war in heaven... This war in heaven will be the last actual struggle between Satan and God over the possession of the heavenlies where Satan reigns (Eph_2:2; Eph_6:12). Satan still has access to God’s heaven to accuse the brethren, but from the time of this casting out he will never again enter heaven (Job 1:6; 2:1; Rev. 12:7-12; Zec. 3:1). The tumultuous events on earth during the Tribulation find their counterpart in heaven. A state of war has existed since the fall of Satan (compare verse 4, compare Dan. 10:13; Jude 9). Something will intensify that warfare, possible the raptured saints passing through the realm of the prince of the power of the air (compare Eph. 2:2).

I really believe that Michael is a very high-up angel directly under Jesus' command. The dragon here is Lucifer, which was an evil archangel.

Five facts about the war in heaven:

1. The fact: there will be a war (Rev. 12:7).

2. The time: in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week (Rev. 12:6-14; 13:1-5)

3. The place: in the heavenlies (Rev. 12:7; Eph. 2:2; 6:12)

4. The combatants (Rev. 12:7)

5. The result (Rev. 12:8-12)

The war predicted here could not be the same as the one in heaven (Isa. 14:12-14; Luke 10:18). That was in the dateless past before the six days’ work of Genesis 1:3-2:25. This war is yet future, for all events of Rev. 4:1-22:5 must be after the churches (Rev. 4:1). The only truth we find here in connection with the original war in heaven is that revealing how many angels originally fell with Lucifer (Rev. 12:4).

Michael and his... Dan. 10:13, 10:21; 12:1; Jude 1:9.

dragon fought and... Angels fight by physical contact in the same way that people do. They are capable of operation in the material and earthly realm. After all, heaven and other planets are of material substance like the earth. Angels have done and can do all things that men can do, plus some things people cannot do before becoming resurrected, immortalized, and being given glorified bodies like Christ who can appear and disappear, going through material substance (John 21:14). Angels are capable of being captured and confined by chains and prisons like people (Dan. 10:13-21; 2Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; Rev. 9:11, 9:14; 20:1-10). Here one army of angels is going to defeat and cast down another army of angels to the earth and confine them there (Rev. 12:7-12). All fallen ones will be confined to hell forever (Mat. 24:41; Rev. 20:10).

4. The Fourth Personage: Satan Cast Out Of Heaven (Rev. 12:7-12)

Michael the archangel (cf. Jude 1:9) and his angels fought Satan and his angels, that is, demons. The time of this war in heaven was not indicated but the context refers to the end time. The efforts of some expositors to make this coincidental with the first coming of Christ, linking it with Luke 10:18, are not justified by the context in Rev. 12:1-17. Also Satan is most obviously active throughout the period of the Church Age (cf. Acts 5:3; 1Cor. 5:5; 7:5; 2Cor. 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1Tim. 1:20; 1Pet. 5:8).

The concept that Satan is inactive in the present Age is a false conclusion based on an attempt to place the binding of Satan at the first coming of Christ (Rev. 20:1-3). However, the binding of Satan is still a future event that relates to the millennial kingdom.

Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished-Hosea Chap. 2

Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished

Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah. Hos. 2:1

Say ye unto... The 4th prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 2:1-23: Hos. 2:1-13 fulfilled; Hos. 2:14-23 unfulfilled). Next, Hos. 3:1.

Eighteen Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. I will not have mercy upon her children (Hos. 2:4).

2. I will hedge up your way with thorns, and make a wall, that she will not find her paths (Hos. 2:6).

3. She will follow after her lovers, but she will not overtake them (Hos. 2:7).

4. She will seek them, but shall not find them.

5. Then she will say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then it was better with me than now.

6. I will return, and take away My corn in the time thereof (Hos. 2:9).

7. I will take away My wine.

8. I will recover My wool and My flax that I gave to cover her nakedness.

9. I will discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers (Hos. 2:10).

10. None will deliver her out of My hand.

11. I will cause all her mirth to cease.

12. I will cause her feast days to cease.

13. I will cause her new moons to cease.

14. I will cause her sabbaths to cease.

15. I will cause her solemn feasts to cease (Hos. 2:11).

16. I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, and make them a forest (Hos. 2:12).

17. The beasts of the field will eat them.

18. I will visit upon her the days of Baalim (Hos. 2:13).

Twenty-four Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. I will allure her (Hos. 2:14).

2. I will bring her into the wilderness.

3. I will speak comfortably unto her.

4. I will give her vineyards from thence.

5. I will give her the valley of Achor for a door of hope (Hos. 2:15).

6. She will sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as the day when she came out of the land of Egypt.

7. In that day you will call Me Ishi; you will call Me Baali no more (Hos. 2:16).

8. I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth (Hos. 2:17).

9. They will be remembered by their name no more.

10. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the fowls of heaven, and the creeping things of the ground (Hos. 2:18).

11. I will break the bow and sword and the battle out of the earth.

12. I will make them lie down safely.

13. I will betroth you unto Me forever (Hos. 2:19).

14. I will betroth you in righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, and mercies.

15. I will even betroth you unto Me in faithfulness (Hos. 2:20).

16. You will know the Lord.

17. In that day I will hear the heavens.

18. The heavens will hear the earth.

19. The earth will hear the corn, wine, and oil (Hos. 2:21-22).

20. They will hear Jezreel (Hos. 2:22).

21. I will sow her unto Me in the earth.

22. I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy (Hos. 2:23).

23. I will say to them which are not My people, You are My people.

24. They will say, You are my God.

The above predictions of Israel being redeemed again and becoming the wife of Jehovah a second time will be fulfilled in the last three and a half years of this age. The prophecy should be studied in connection with Rev. 12:1-17—a passage with similar predictions of Israel going into the wilderness where God will plead with them like He did through Moses and Aaron in coming out of Egypt.

Say ye unto... Many interpreters consider this verse as being connected with the preceding chapter, thus: When that general restoration of the Jewish nation shall take place, you may change your language in speaking to those of your brethren and sisters whom I had before disowned, and you may call them Ammi, my people, and Ruhamah, she that hath obtained mercy.

The words form a climax of the love of God. First, the people scattered, unpitied, and disowned by God, is re-born of God; and then it is declared to be in continued relation to God, "My people;" then to be the object of his yearning love.

to your sisters... Only one daughter and two sons (Hos. 2:3-4, 2:6, 2:8-9).

Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; Hos. 2:2

with your mother... Gomer of Hos. 1:3.

she is not... Just as Gomer had left Hosea, so Israel had left God—for whoredoms. In both cases the marriage was dissolved for a time.

Although the language is applicable to Gomer, it depicts a courtroom scene in which the Lord, as the plaintiff, brings charges against the defendant.

let her therefore... Individual Israelites, depicted as the children, are commanded to bring charges against their mother, Israel as a nation. The physical immorality of Gomer pictures the spiritual idolatry of Israel.

The same message is in this chapter (that was in chapter one). It is just expressed more fully. The "mother" is speaking of the harlot wife, Israel. Christians must remember that Jesus is coming back for a bride that is without spot or wrinkle. He does not want a bride that is committing spiritual adultery either. The worship of false gods is spiritual adultery. We must be faithful to Him, if we are to be His bride.
and her adulteries...The "adulteries from between her breasts", possibly, speaks of hidden sin. This is just another warning to keep the first commandment.
Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment."
To not keep this commandment is spiritual adultery. Sins that are hidden are just as bad as those out in the open.

Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst. Hos. 2:3

set her as... in the day … born”: (Ezek. 16:4; 23:25-26, 28-29). The day of her political "birth" was when God delivered her from the bondage of Egypt, and set up the theocracy.

make her as... (Jer. 6:8; Zeph. 2:13). Translate, "make her as the wilderness," namely, that in which she passed forty years on her way to her goodly possession of Canaan. With this agrees the mention of "thirst" (compare Jer. 2:6).
The house of Jacob was in this condition, when God sent Moses to bring them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. They had nothing. They became the wife of God when they made covenant with Him to keep His commandments. This was also, the condition of a sinner, before he was saved. We make covenant, when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
The righteous do not hunger and thirst, they are filled. Those who wander away from God do not benefit from the things of God, because He withdraws from them. This is what this is saying here. They must repent or God will let them get back into the condition He found them in.

The Lord’s appeal (Hos. 2:2) was strengthened by a severe threat containing three solemn warnings to Israel (I will occurs three times in Hos. 2:3-4). First, the Lord threatened to strip her naked, making her an object of shame and ridicule (cf. Hos. 2:10; Eze. 16:35-43). The punishment fit the crime. She who had exposed her nakedness to her lovers would be exposed publicly for all to see. This public act apparently preceded the execution of an adulteress (cf. Eze. 16:38-40).

Second, the Lord threatened to make her like an arid desert, deprived of water (cf. slay her with thirst), incapable of producing or sustaining life. All her powers of fertility would be removed. Again the punishment fit the crime. She who had engaged in illicit sexual behavior would become incapable of reproduction.

And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms. Hos. 2:4

not have mercy... The children are like their mother: not only are they born of doubtful parentage, but are personally defiled. Not only is idolatry enshrined in the national sanctuary and the royal palace, but the people love to have it so. They endorse the degradation of their mother.

God greatly blesses the children of those who are faithful to Him. Let us see what happened to those who worshipped false gods.
Exodus 20:5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;"
We see then (what verse 4 above is speaking of). These children can repent and come to God on their own, however. The mother generally has a great deal to do with the moral character of her children. She has not taught them correctly in this particular instance.
Sometimes, the mother could be speaking of the church in our case. In that case, a church which does not teach truth could cause the members to fail.

The third threat involved the rejection of the wife’s children. The reason was that they were children of adultery. This may mean they were products of their mother’s illicit relationships, though probably it simply indicates they were covered with shame by reason of their association with such a mother (cf. Hos. 2:5 and Hos. 1:2). At any rate, the Lord announced they would not receive His love (rāḥam; cf. Hos. 1:6-8; 2:1), implying they would be disowned and become orphans. In this way any reminder of the relationship with their mother would be eliminated.

The harsh punishment threatened in Hos. 2:3-4 seems to imply complete termination of the marriage. The wayward wife would be executed and her children disowned. However, the context clearly demonstrates that this would not occur. This same anomaly occurs in Eze. 16:1-63 where Israel is executed as an adulteress (Eze. 16:35-42) only to be eventually restored to favor (Eze. 16:59-63). Apparently the harsh language was intended to emphasize the severity of the punishment without implying the absolute termination of the Lord’s relationship with Israel, a remnant will survive.

For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Hos. 2:5

their mother hath... Gomer had gone back to her former lovers to live as a harlot. This was used to illustrate how Israel had backslidden and gone from Jehovah to serve idol gods (Hos. 2:5-23).

I will go... Literally “Let me go,” it denotes strong desire and bent. Israel attributed her prosperity to the idols of her heathen neighbors; her “lovers” (compare verses 7, 10, 12). She would not be deterred from pursuing them.

that give me... Seven things Gomer had in harlotry:

1. Lovers

2. Bread

3. Water

4. Wool

5. Flax

6. Oil

7. Drink

The "mother" here is Israel. Israel had been unfaithful to God. The lovers here are possibly speaking of the countries around them. God did not want Israel mixing with the heathen nations around them because they would pick up bad habits from them. The worship of false gods was introduced to them by the people around them. They made treaties with these nations and picked up much of their culture.
Israel belonged to God and He had provided for all of her needs, and had even fought her battles for her. Now she is turning from God's help to worldly people's help. God was sufficient for them and He is sufficient for us today as well in the church. There is no need to look to the world for answers, the world does not have answers. Only God has answers to our problems.

Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. Hos. 2:6

I will hedge... The prediction is that she would not be happy and successful in her life of harlotry—she would long for her husband again and return to him (Hos. 2:6-8). I will erect impassable barriers that shall pierce and mangle her flesh.

way with thorns... The path of evil shall be a path of thorns.”

shall not find...She was determined to go her own way. She does not follow in the path God has made for her. When she decides to do this, God covers His path that He had left for her with thorns. She will not be able to find her way back, unless God removes the thorns. Christians know that Jesus is the Way. To try to get to heaven other than by Jesus is impossible. To walk in sin even now, obscures the path that leads to God.

And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. Hos. 2:7

she shall follow... With earnest travel, and with wearisome toil, she shall attempt every way to get to them, but to no purpose: afflictions and sorrows surround Israel; these Israel can by no means break out of to these lovers, and they, like false lovers, hasten as fast and as far from this adulteress as they can.

Her lovers are idols and idolaters, her false friends, and false gods.
she shall not... They which hasten after such strange gods and helps, as this shameless harlot, shall meet with sorrow, but never overtake their desired help.
she shall seek...: As is the manner of immodest strumpets; it speaks also her obstinate resolution in her way: so Israel forsook a God that would have sought him to do him good, and by no disappointments would be (for a long time), taken off from this frantic wildness, of seeking to idols that could do him no good.
but shall not... The final issue of all is at last, she is wearied in her folly, tired with fruitless labor, and sits down hopeless of ever finding help from idols and idolaters.
“I will go and return”: Restless, she will try one way more; if she only had tried this sooner, this would have been successful. She will return, come back, and seek to her Husband.
my first Husband... i.e. God, who had married Israel to himself, who was her Husband indeed: all others were as adulterers, as deceivers and seducers, who abuse the credulity of wanton women first, and next abuse their husbands’ beds.
For then was it better with me than now: how much the tune is changed! (In Hosea 2:5), all her gallantry, her feasts, her rich apparel, these are gifts of her lovers; not a word of her Husband’s greatest kindnesses. But now she sees and confesses that the least of her Husband’s kindnesses was better than the greatest kindness of these her paramours, and at worst with her Husband she was better than at best with adulterers.
You cannot try out the world and then come back to God anytime you want to. That is what Israel found out, and it is what Christians find out also. God did not want part of their love, He wanted all. Loyalty to God involves forsaking the entire world. Israel suddenly realizes that she was much better off when she was with God.

Her frantic efforts to find her lovers would be thwarted (Hos. 2:7). As a last resort, she would resolve to return to her Husband, the Lord, opening the way for restoration. The reality behind this figurative portrayal of judgment probably included drought, invasion, and exile (cf. Hos. 2:9, 2:11-12; Lev. 26:18-22).

For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Hos. 2:8

For she did... She did not know that her husband had provided her all the things which her lovers had provided, and more. She was to be punished and taught a lesson not to play the harlot again (Hos. 2:9-10).

prepared for Baal... Baal (the Phoenician sun-god) worship, already present during the time of the judges (Judges 2:17; 3:3; 8:33), became established in Israel when King Ahab married Jezebel, who attempted to obliterate Israelite worship of the true God (1 Kings Chapter 19). Offering to Baal actually came from God’s dowry to Israel (Ezek. 16:10-14).

It was God that had provided her with all her needs. He had loved Israel so much that He gave her far beyond her need. He had showered her with silver and gold as well. Since we are looking at this spiritually, we must remember that "silver" symbolizes redemption and "gold" symbolizes God.
God had redeemed her, and provided all of her needs. She repaid Him by giving that gold to the false god Baal. She had great wealth, but did not appreciate the fact God had showered the wealth upon her. She took God for granted. The saddest thing was that she used the gold and silver to worship a false god.

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. Hos. 2:9

Therefore will I... Beginning here the judgment of God is applied to Israel (Hos. 2:11-13). The restoration of Israel is predicted in Hos. 2:14-23.

The Hebrew form of saying, “Therefore I will take back.” Jehovah resumes all that had been misappropriated. The king of Assyria (Tiglath-pileser, 734 B.C.), was the agency whereby this was to be accomplished (compare Isaiah 10:5).

and will recover...The raiment (wool and flax), was Jehovah’s gift to cover her nakedness, i.e., to meet the actual necessities of Israel. This He will tear away, and the idol-gods whom she has courted shall see her prostration, and their own helplessness to deliver or relieve.

Her unfaithfulness to God causes Him to remove all the blessings she had known before. She will be in the same condition she was in, when He saved her out of Egypt.

And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand. Hos. 2:10

will I discover... God pledged to expose Israel’s wickedness. The phrase is linked to being taken forcibly into captivity (in Ezek. 16:37-40).

her Lewdness... Means disgrace. God does not want her anymore, because she has been unfaithful. No husband wants an unfaithful wife. He will bring punishment upon her for her sins. She deserves His punishment.

of her lovers... The idols were personified as if they could see, though they could offer no help.

The figurative portrayal of Israel as the Lord’s wife is carried along in these verses. Without wool and linen (cf. Hos. 2:5), which were used to make clothing (Lev. 13:47, 13:59; Deut. 22:11; Pro. 31:13; Eze. 44:17), she would have no means of covering her nakedness. Through this deprivation the Lord would expose her lewdness. Her shameful behavior would become known to all through this public demonstration (cf. Hos. 2:3; Eze. 16:36-37). “Lewdness” (naḇlûṯ, which occurs only here in the OT) refers to a blatant breach of covenant which disgraces the entire community. A related term (n^eḇālâh) is used of Achan’s sin (Jos. 7:15), as well as various prohibited sexual acts, including fornication (Deut. 22:21), incest (2Sa. 13:12), rape (Jdg. 19:23; 20:6), and adultery (Jer. 29:23). During this exhibition Israel’s lovers would be forced to stand by helplessly, being unable to deliver her from the Lord’s powerful grip. Then the Lord’s superiority and the lovers’ weakness (or apathy) would become apparent to her.

I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. Hos. 2:11

her feasts days... Ever since the Exodus from Egypt, Israel had intermingled the worship of the Lord with the worship of false gods (compare Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43).
All of these times were when she communed with God. All communication with God is cut off. These had been times set aside, when God and His people fellow shipped.

sabbaths, and all... It is clear here that the sabbaths of Israel were to be done away with as much as her mirth, feasts, new moons, and other rituals. This is what happened when God made the new covenant: not a single commandment was given regarding the keeping of any particular day as the sabbath. It is plainly set forth in the N.T. that every man may do as he pleases regarding a sabbath day (Rom. 14:5-6), and that no man is to judge another on this question (Col. 2:14-17), for Christianity is not a religion of days, weeks, years, and rituals (Gal. 4:9-10).

And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. Hos. 2:12

The themes in Hos_2:5-9 are repeated in Hos. 2:12-13. In implementing the covenant curses the Lord would destroy the produce (her vines and her fig trees; cf. Deut. 28:38-42; Joel 1:7; Amos 4:9), which Israel erroneously regarded as the pay given by her paramours in exchange for her services (cf. Hos. 9:1; Mic. 1:7). The vineyards would be reduced to an overgrown thicket inhabited by wild animals. This would be an effect of the depopulation which would accompany the nation’s military defeat and exile (cf. Psm. 80:12-13; Isa. 5:5-6; 7:23-25; 17:9; 32:9-14; Mic. 3:12).

And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. Hos. 2:12

I will destroy... Before, God had threatened to take away the fruits in their seasons; now He says that he will take away all hope for the future; not the fruit only, but the trees which bare it.
It was the plague, which God in former times laid upon those, out of the midst of whom He took them to be His people (Psalm 105:33; see Jeremiah 5:17). "He smote their vines also and their fig trees, and brake the trees of their coasts."
lovers have given... Now that they had become like the pagan, He dealt with them as with the pagan.
Of which she said, “These are my rewards”: Literally "my hire." It is the special word, used of the payment to the adulteress, or degraded woman, and so continues the likeness, by which he had set forth the foulness of her desertion of God.
and I will... The vines and fig-trees which had aforetime been their wealth, and full of beauty, should, when neglected, run wild, and become the harbor of the wild beasts Which should prey upon them.
God had given them the vines and fig trees. Since they had abandoned Him, He takes away the blessings He had given them. God will not cause them to be fruitful anymore. All of these things belong to God. He can do with them whatever He wishes.

The themes in Hos. 2:5-9 are repeated in Hos. 2:12-13. In implementing the covenant curses the Lord would destroy the produce (her vines and her fig trees; cf. Deut.28:38-42; Joel 1:7; Amos 4:9), which Israel erroneously regarded as the pay given by her paramours in exchange for her services (cf. Hos. 9:1; Mic. 1:7). The vineyards would be reduced to an overgrown thicket inhabited by wild animals. This would be an effect of the depopulation which would accompany the nation’s military defeat and exile (cf. Psm. 80:12-13; Isa. 5:5-6; 7:23-25; 17:9; 32:9-14; Mic. 3:12).

And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. Hos. 2:13

visit upon her... I will punish them for serving Baal (Hos. 2:11-13).

decked herself with... God put jewelry on her, including bracelets… a necklace, a ring on her nose, earrings, and a crown. The “ring” was clipped to the outer part of a nostril and was worn as jewelry with bracelets and earrings (cf. Gen. 24:47; Isa. 3:21). All this suggests that under God’s blessing during the reigns of David and Solomon Jerusalem became a magnificent city (cf. 1Ki. 10:4-5).

Besides receiving expensive jewelry and fine clothes Jerusalem also was given the choicest foods: fine flour, honey, and olive oil. Everything she could possibly need or want was lavished on her by her gracious, generous “Husband.” Being beautiful, she became a queen, and her beauty was known throughout the nations. See Eze_16:11-14; Eze_23:40-42.

after her lovers... The lovers of Israel were the many nations round about, whom they made alliances with and trusted in instead of Jehovah.

and forgat me...(compare 2 Kings 17:7-18), for a detailed description of what their abandonment of God involved.

The "days of Baalim" is speaking of the time when they were practicing idolatry. They had given the love that belonged to God to these false gods. The "burning of incense" in the temple of God symbolized the prayers of the saints rising to heaven. It appears, they had been praying to false gods.
Outward show of beauty is not Godliness. True beauty comes from within. You may appear to the world to be in right standing with God, but God looks on the heart. They had become worldly and forgotten God. They were lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God.

The Lord's Mercy on Israel

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. Hos. 2:14

Therefore, behold, I... Law of Prophetic Perspective (explained below).

The present dispensation of grace comes in between what was predicted to happen, as in Hos. 2:13, and that predicted in Hos. 2:14—between the judgment of God upon Israel which is referred to in Hos. 2:11-13 and the future full restoration of Israel to eternal blessing referred to in Hos. 2:14-23. There are many such examples in Scripture where a long time exists between the events mentioned in two statements. They come under what we call the law of prophetic perspective.

Twenty-six Such Examples in Scripture:

1. The whole pre-Adamite world and the reign of Lucifer and his fall come between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 2:1-25.

2. In the middle of Psm. 118:22, the present dispensation comes in.

3. And in the middle of Isa. 9:6.

4. The middle of Isa. 53:10.

5. The middle of Isa. 61:2.

6. The middle of Lam. 4:22.

7. Between Dan. 9:26 and Dan. 9:27.

8. Between Dan. 11:34 and Dan. 11:35.

9. Between Hos. 2:13 and Hos. 2:14.

10. Between Amos 9:11 and Amos 9:12.

11. Between Mic. 5:2 and Mic. 5:3.

12. Between Hab. 2:13 and Hab. 2:14.

13. Between Zeph. 3:7 and Zeph. 3:8.

14. Between Zec. 9:9 and Zec. 9:10.

15. In the middle of Mal. 3:1.

16. In the middle of Mat. 10:23.

17. In the middle of Mat. 12:20.

18. Between Luke 1:31 and Luke 1:32.

19. In the middle of Luke 21:24.

20. Between Acts 15:14 and Acts 15:16.

21. In the middle of 1Cor. 15:23.

22. In the middle of 1Pet. 1:11.

23. In the middle of Rev. 1:19.

Sometimes two whole dispensations come in between verses or parts thereof. Points 24, 25, and 26 are three such examples:

24. Between Acts 17:30 and Acts 17:31

25. Between the first part of 1Cor. 15:23 and 1Cor. 15:24

26. Between Eph. 1:9 and Eph. 1:10

bring her into... This refers to the flight of the woman of Rev. 12:1-17 into the wilderness. Many other examples could be given, illustrating how important the study of dispensational truth really is.

speak comfortably unto... Twenty things God will do for Israel in the wilderness (Hos. 2:14-23; Rev. 12:6, 12:14):

1. Speak comfortably to her (Hos. 2:14).

2. Give her back her vineyards (Hos. 2:15).

3. Give her the valley of Achor for a door of hope.

4. Bring her back to a spirit of singing.

5. Marry her again (Hos. 2:16).

6. Bring her into a closer relationship with Himself than merely saying My Lord.

7. Take the names of Baalim out of her mouth (Hos. 2:17).

8. Blot out all remembrance of the name of Baalim from her mind.

9. Make a covenant for them with the beasts of the earth (Hos. 2:18).

10. Bring peace to them.

11. Make them safe.

12. Betroth her unto Himself forever (Hos. 2:19).

13. Betroth her in righteousness.

14. In faithfulness (Hos. 2:20).

15. Cause her to know Him.

16. Make them prosperous (Hos. 2:21-22).

17. Make her a plant of His own (Hos. 2:23).

18. Have mercy upon her.

19. Call them His people.

20. Become their God.

speak comfortably unto... The phrase was used of wooing (Gen. 34:3; Judges 19:3; Ruth 2:13). God will restore Israel to Himself.

God will draw her to Him again, is the message in this verse. God punishes His own, when they have sinned, but He is quick to forgive and restore them. He is like a loving parent, who whips a child who is in error, then forgives him and restores him, because he is his own.

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. Hos. 2:15

The valley of... (“Valley of Trouble”), was where Achan disobeyed God and kept the enemy’s plunder, resulting in great devastation for the Israelites (Joshua chapter 7). Yet God promised to turn this valley into “a door of hope” for His people. He does this for all His children who actively seek the hope He has provided (Rev. 3:20).

God's forgiveness is not just in words, He restores her vineyards again. He pours out His blessings on her again.
a door of... There is hope. Just as God was the hope of the family of Jacob in Egypt, He is the hope of the Israelites here. Achor is not very far from the fertile land of Jericho. Achor is the entrance to that land. In Jericho today, the fruit and vegetables are far more than they need for themselves. It is so fruitful that they sell much of it. This is a prosperous area.

When the Lord leads Israel out of the desert back into the Promised Land, He will restore her vineyards. The words There I will give misinterpret the elliptical Hebrew text (which reads lit., “from there”) by implying that vineyards will grow in the wilderness where Israel had wandered. The agricultural prosperity envisioned here will be in Israel (cf. Hos. 2:22-23; Deut. 30:4-5, 30:9; Amos 9:13-15), not in the desert. When Israel enters the land she will again pass through the Valley of Achor (lit., “Valley of trouble”), the site of Achan’s heinous sin which jeopardized the success of the Conquest (Jos. 7:1-26). However, this time the valley will be a symbol of better things to come, a door of hope leading to repossession of the Promised Land (cf. Isa. 65:10). The effects of the trouble caused by Israel’s past unfaithfulness will have disappeared. Instead she will respond favorably to the Lord as in the days immediately after the Exodus (cf. Jer. 2:2). Admittedly this earlier period is idealized here, as even a cursory reading of the narratives in Exodus and Numbers reveals.

And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. Hos. 2:16

In Hebrew, the word husband can be translated using two words, one that means “My Husband” (denoting affection and intimacy), and one that means My Master (literally, “my Baal”), speaking of rulership. God was once again urging His people to worship Him for who He is and not to be ruled by false gods.

The fact that she is to call Him Ishi, indicates that she is recognizing Him as her husband. She had acted like the false gods were her husband before. This will be no more. She is the wife of God.

In that day, when Israel is restored to the land, she will acknowledge the Lord as her husband. She will address Him as ’ı̂šı̂, my Husband, rather than ba‛ ă̌li, my Master. These two Hebrew words are essentially synonymous. They are used interchangeably in 2Sa. 11:26, “Now when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband (’ı̂š) was dead, she mourned for her husband (ba‛al; NASB; cf. also Deut. 24:3-4). However, the word ba‛al would be a reminder of Israel’s former Baal worship.

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. Hos. 2:17

(In verse 13), Israel forgot her true God; God said she would forget her false gods. What the outward conformity to the Mosaic Covenant could not do, God does through a new, regenerated heart in the New Covenant for Israel now (Jer. 31:31-34; Zech. 13:1-2).

Just as God discredited the false gods of Egypt, He takes the names of her false gods away here and will remember them no more. She will have totally forgotten them.

Therefore God will prohibit its use, and Israel will no longer use the names of the Baals (cf. the pl. “Baals” in Hos. 2:13; Hos. 11:2).

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. Hos. 2:18

will I make... This depicts a millennial scene (compare Isaiah 2:4; 11:6-9; Micah 4:3), when God’s people become subject to God and creation becomes subject to them.

for them with... God will make this covenant of peace between Israel and earth creatures, giving man his original dominion (Gen. 1:26-31). This is not the new covenant so often mentioned in the prophets.

I will break... This is abolishing war (Isa. 2:4).

lie down safely... This expresses universal safety of man and all creatures on earth.

Zechariah 2:11 "And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee."
This is speaking of that time when the Root of Jesse shall rule. This is that time of perfect peace, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall reign. The 11th chapter of Isaiah explains it in detail. There will no longer be one nation that belongs to God, but He will rule over all. Everyone who believes in Christ will be His bride.
Revelation 21:3 " And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God."

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

Hos. 2:19

I will betroth... Just as Hosea married Gomer the second time, after she learned her lesson regarding being true to her husband, so the same would happen to Israel regarding her relationship with Jehovah, according to the prediction here. God will marry Israel again and betroth her to Himself forever in righteousness and faithfulness (Hos. 2:19-20).

Then Jehovah, turning again to the wife of His youth, says to her, “I will betroth thee” (as at the first, when maiden undefiled). Three times this phrase is repeated.

unto me in... Indicate the equitable terms on which God would accept the penitent; and lest this thought should crush her with fear, “lovingkindness” and “tender mercies” follow; and lest this should seem too good, He adds “with faithfulness” (to myself).

The law of commandments will be no more.

Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;"

Read the rest of the chapter to get the full picture. "This is when He writes the law on the heart of man.

Hebrews 10:16 “This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"

"Righteousness" is being put in right standing with God. Jesus did it for us and all we have to do is believe. All of these; righteousness, judgment, lovingkindness, and mercy come from God to man.

I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. Hos. 2:20

thou shalt know... This is very characteristic of Ezekiel who uses such an idea about 75 times, compared to this once in Hosea.

Keeping the marriage contract inviolable, Christ will never suffer his faithfulness to fail, nor break his covenant. As he is faithful to his Father that appointed him, so he is, and will be, to his church and people, and to every believer, to whom he is espoused.

I will even... And it is he that makes them faithful unto him, and gives them faith to believe in him, receive, embrace, own, and acknowledge him as their husband: and in this sense, some understand it, rendering it, "in faith".
This is the third time the word "betroth" is used, or this promise made; which, according to Jerome, refers to them espousing of the Jews in Abraham, at Mount Sinai, and in the times of Christ.
and thou shalt... That the Messiah is Jehovah, and that he is their husband; they shall all know him, from the least to the greatest; they shall have a saving knowledge of him, which will issue in eternal life; they shall own him, and acknowledge him, serve and obey him, as their Lord, Head, and Husband, as well as love him, and believe in him.
Hebrews 8:11 "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
This knowing is a free gift from God.

And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; Hos. 2:21

in that day... "In that day" and "at that day" are characteristic of Isaiah in whose book they are found 53 times compared to the 4 in Hosea (Hos. 2:1:5; 2:16, 2:18, 2:21).

I will hear,... These statements express prosperity (Hos. 2:21-22).

A reversal of circumstances (compare 1:4, 6, 9).

This is speaking of the time when the door to heaven is opened. God has access to the people, and we have access to Him.

And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. Hos. 2:22

shall hear Jezreel... (as in 1:11), used here in the positive sense of scattering seed to sow it.

The relationship with God and Israel is restored. This time, it will never be separated again. When this great day comes, there will be no enemy. The land will abundantly produce for Israel during the Millennium.

The promise of restored agricultural blessing, mentioned briefly in Hos. 2:15, is expanded here. A series of cries and responses is envisioned as different elements of the natural world are personified. Jezreel (the nation of Israel here) will cry out to the grain… wine, and oil. They in turn will respond by calling to the earth from which they are produced. The earth in turn will look to the heavens, the source of the rain which makes the soil productive. The heavens will then call to the Lord, the One who ultimately controls the agricultural cycle. He will respond by providing the rain necessary for agricultural prosperity.

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Hos. 2:23

I will sow... This pictures the sowing of Israel as a plant of His own in the earth, indicating their restoration (Hos. 1:10-11). This is why the word Jezreel (the seed of God which He will sow) is used in Hos. 2:22.

were not my... Quoted in Rom. 9:25, not of the Gentiles only, but as an illustration of what may be true in their case as well as in Israel’s (cp. 1Pet. 2:10).

This could be the wife of God, Israel, who had been rejected of God. All relations had become new. God is starting all over again with Israel. This could also, be speaking of the unbelieving world, which has been offered the opportunity to be God's people. Whosoever will, regardless of nationality or blood line, shall have the opportunity to be God's people, and Him be their God.

Romans 3:29 "[Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:"
Romans 9:26 "And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."