Hos 12:5, Amo 4:13 | JFB | STEP | 5. Lord God-- Jehovah, a name implying His immutable constancy to His promises. From the Hebrew root, meaning "existence." "He that is, was, and is to be," always the same ( ; , ; compare , ; ). As He was unchangeable in His favor to Jacob, so will He be to His believing posterity. of hosts-- which Israel foolishly worshipped. Jehovah has all the hosts (saba) or powers of heaven and earth at His command, so that He is as all-powerful, as He is faithful, to fulfil His promises ( ; ). memorial-- the name expressive of the character in which God was ever to be remembered ( ).

‏ Hosea 12:5

5. Lord God--Jehovah, a name implying His immutable constancy to His promises. From the Hebrew root, meaning "existence." "He that is, was, and is to be," always the same (He 13:8; Re 1:4, 8; compare Ex 3:14, 15; 6:3). As He was unchangeable in His favor to Jacob, so will He be to His believing posterity.

of hosts--which Israel foolishly worshipped. Jehovah has all the hosts (saba) or powers of heaven and earth at His command, so that He is as all-powerful, as He is faithful, to fulfil His promises (Psa 135:6; Am 5:27).

memorial--the name expressive of the character in which God was ever to be remembered (Psa 135:13).

‏ Amos 4:13

13. The God whom Israel is to "prepare to meet" (Am 4:12) is here described in sublime terms.

wind--not as the Margin, "spirit." The God with whom thou hast to do is the Omnipotent Maker of things seen, such as the stupendous mountains, and of things too subtle to be seen, though of powerful agency, as the "wind."

declareth unto man ... his thought--(Psa 139:2). Ye think that your secret thoughts escape My cognizance, but I am the searcher of hearts.

maketh ... morning darkness--(Am 5:8; 8:9). Both literally turning the sunshine into darkness, and figuratively turning the prosperity of the ungodly into sudden adversity (Psa 73:12, 18, 19; compare Jr 13:16).

treadeth upon ... high places--God treadeth down the proud of the earth. He subjects to Him all things however high they be (Mi 1:3). Compare De 32:13; 33:29, where the same phrase is used of God's people, elevated by God above every other human height.