מדרש אויף הושע 2:23

"And know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him." (Psalms 4:3) "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country which I lifted up My hand in an oath to give to your fathers." (Ezekiel 20:42) "Comfort, comfort My people, says your God." (Isaiah 40:1) "And it shall come to pass at that time that I will hear," says the Lord; "I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth." (Hosea 2:23)

Variantly: "Listen, O heavens": R. Bana'ah was wont to say: When a man is found liable (by bet-din), only the witnesses initiate the death penalty, viz. (Devarim 17:7) "The hand of the witnesses shall be against him first to put him to death," and only afterwards do others consummate it, viz. (Ibid.) "and the hand of all the people afterwards." When Israel do not do G-d's will, what is written of them? (Ibid. 11:17) "And the wrath of the L-rd will burn against you, and He will hold back the heavens … and the ground (i.e., the "witnesses), etc.", only after which the punishment is consummated, viz. (Ibid.) "and you will go lost quickly." And when Israel do G-d's will, what is written of them? (Hoshea 2:23-25) "And it will be on that day, I will answer, says the L-rd. I will answer the heavens, and they will answer the earth … and I will sow her (Israel) for Myself in the earth, etc."

Variantly: "Listen, O heavens": R. Bana'ah was wont to say: When a man is found liable (by bet-din), only the witnesses initiate the death penalty, viz. (Devarim 17:7) "The hand of the witnesses shall be against him first to put him to death," and only afterwards do others consummate it, viz. (Ibid.) "and the hand of all the people afterwards." When Israel do not do G-d's will, what is written of them? (Ibid. 11:17) "And the wrath of the L-rd will burn against you, and He will hold back the heavens … and the ground (i.e., the "witnesses), etc.", only after which the punishment is consummated, viz. (Ibid.) "and you will go lost quickly." And when Israel do G-d's will, what is written of them? (Hoshea 2:23-25) "And it will be on that day, I will answer, says the L-rd. I will answer the heavens, and they will answer the earth … and I will sow her (Israel) for Myself in the earth, etc."