Another ear than the prophet's has heard the plaint from the bare
heights. Many a frenzied shriek had gone up from these shrines of
idolatrous worship, and as with Baal's prophets, it had brought no
answer, nor had there been any that regarded. But this weeping reaches
the ear that is never closed. Contrast with verse 23: 'Truly in vain is
the help that is looked for from the hills, the shouting (of
idol-worshippers) on the mountains.'
The instantaneousness of God's answer is very beautiful. It is like the
action of the father in the parable of the prodigal son, who saw his
repentant boy afar off and ran and kissed him.
There seems to be, in both the invitation to return and in the promise
to hear the backslidings, a quotation from Hosea xiv. (1-4). We see
here how God meets the penitent with a love that recognises all his sin
and yet is love. It is not rebuke or reproach that lies in that
designation, 'backsliding children.' It is tenderest mercy that lets us
see that He knows exactly what we are, and yet promises His love and
forgiveness. He loves us sinners with a love that beckons us back to
Himself, with a love that promises healing. The truth which should be
taken into the mind and heart of the man conscious of sin is God's
knowledge of it all already and yet His undiminished love, God's
welcome of him back, God's ready pardon. All this is true for the world
in Christ, and is true for every individual soul.
The answer and the invitation here are immediate.
There is often a long period of painful struggle. It looks as if the
answer were not immediate. But that is because we do not listen to it.