Hosea 11:4

Cords. This is a further picture of the Lord’s fatherly guidance of Israel (see Jer. 31:3). Bands of love. A significant expression, showing that these bands are far different from those which men employ in taming wild animals. The lower animals must sometimes be broken into useful labor with a degree of violence; but God does not so draw men. He uses neither hard cords nor iron bands, but draws us by rational means, courting our intelligence and appealing to our affections (see on Isa. 1:18). God draws us in a manner suitable to the dignity of our nature, as those made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27). In working for souls we should ever follow this method of love (see 1 Cor. 9:19-23; 1 Thess. 2:7, 8; 3:12; Heb. 5:2). Christ drew us with the cords of a man when He became man, and lived and sacrificed Himself for our good (see John 12:32; Acts 10:38). Meat. Anything edible, that is, food in general, not necessarily flesh. The Lord granted to Israel, in spite of their frequent faithless acts, His saving mercy and tender compassion, along with an abundant sustenance (see Ps. 23:5). This made all the more inexcusable their resorting to other gods to secure greater bounties.