Ephraim has provoked to anger most bitterly. Therefore his blood will be left on him, And his his Lord will repay his contempt.
Truly shame and reproach have been for centuries the portion of God’s unfaithful people. To those who are lost, He gives back their reproach, in that they “rise to reproaches Daniel 12:2 and everlasting abhorrence . It is an aggravation of this misery, that He who shall “give back to him” his reproach, had been “his God.” Since “his God” was against him, who could be for him? “For whither should we go for refuge, save to Him? If we find wrath with Him, with whom should we find ruth?” Ephraim did not, the sinner will not, allow God to be “his God” in worship and service and love: but whether he willed or no, God would remain his Lord. He was, and might still have been their Lord for good; they would not have Him so, and so they should find Him still their Lord, as an Avenger, returning their own evil to them.