Hosea 14:6. His branches shall spread,
This is growing sideways; so the believer spreads his branches by public profession and testimony after having become deeply rooted in the faith and having grown up in love to God, then he begins to spread his shadow over the sons of men by telling-
"To sinners round,
What a dear Saviour he has found."
Hosea 14:6. And his beauty shall be as the olive tree,
Which largely consists in its fruitfulness. That is always the most beautiful olive which bears the most fruit; so the fruitful Christian shall have the beauty of the olive tree. Besides, the olive is an evergreen, and the Christian’s beauty is of a kind that shall never fade. There is an old saying, "Beauty soon fades" but that does not mean the Christian’s beauty, for that shall never fade, neither in life, nor in death, nor in eternity.
Hosea 14:6. And his smell as Lebanon.
That is, the holy influence of his life and conversation shall be as fragrant to God and men as are the perfumes exhaled by the sweet flowers upon the side of Mount Lebanon.
Hosea 14:6. His branches shall spread,
This is growing sideways; so the believer spreads his branches by public profession and testimony after having become deeply rooted in the faith and having grown up in love to God, then he begins to spread his shadow over the sons of men by telling-
"To sinners round,
What a dear Saviour he has found."
Hosea 14:6. And his beauty shall be as the olive tree,
Which largely consists in its fruitfulness. That is always the most beautiful olive which bears the most fruit; so the fruitful Christian shall have the beauty of the olive tree. Besides, the olive is an evergreen, and the Christian’s beauty is of a kind that shall never fade. There is an old saying, "Beauty soon fades" but that does not mean the Christian’s beauty, for that shall never fade, neither in life, nor in death, nor in eternity.
Hosea 14:6. And his smell as Lebanon.
That is, the holy influence of his life and conversation shall be as fragrant to God and men as are the perfumes exhaled by the sweet flowers upon the side of Mount Lebanon.