Hazael hnd conquered, had subdued Moab and recovered DamBBcua. The kingdom seemed strong, but it wo.s on the eve of disruption. So has it often been. When the King of Babylon wns feasUng with his nobles, Cyrus was marching up the bed of the river, transforming the city's means of defence into its means of destruction. When the people of tho Ilomnn empire were giving way to luxury, as men who could afforcl to relax the old toil o.nd strain, the Gothe were at their gates. Let any nation fail in moral strength amidst material prosperity, and forget that it is "righteousness which exalteth a nation;" let it in spirit say to itself, "Thou hast much goods laid up for many years," then there sounds from heaven the warning words, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee I n Nor ought a Christian Church to consider that its wealth and numbers constitute a gauge for its stability and spiritual strength, for not infrequently its truest vrosperity has been seen in the days of persecution for righteousness' sake. To ourselves also let ua fearlessly apply the same principle. Our peril may be greatest in our hours of success and prosperity. Woe is nearest when all men speak well of us; for it is when we have eaten and are full that we must beware lest we forget the Lord our God. IV, THAT A BOENE OF MEMORABLE VICTORIES MAY BECOME THE SCENE OF FINAL DEFEAT. "I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Je1.reel." The "bow" is always in Scripture an emblem of strength, and here denotes the military an,l political power of forael, which would be broken in the valley of Jezreel. No place was more distinguished than this for the execution of Divine judgments a<;>:ainst the foes of his people. There the hosts of Sisera were sea ttered by Barak, and there the Midianites slept securely in their camp till, in the dead of night, Gideon with his three hundred swept down the hillside like an avalanche and overwhelmed them. This place, made memorable by former victories, was to become the scene of final defeat to God's people who had become God's foes. This dreadful change was strikingly set forth by the two contrasted names, "Israel" and " Yidsreel," names which implied that it was brought about by change in character; for the people were no longer "Israel," having power with God, but had become "Yidsreel," scattered by God, from him and from ea.eh other. Israel's bow should be broken in the valley of Jez:reel. What is the bow of our strength? If it be not in Jehovah it will be broken; for the day of retribution must come upon all that sets itself against God, or dares to take his place. We are hastening on to a final conflict which will test us to the utmost. In the valley of the shadow of death our fathers have exclaimed, "Now thanks be unto GoJ which giveth us the victory;" but if we forsake God as Israel dicl, that place of holy memories will be to us, not the place of conquest and song, but of defeat and shame, for there that in which we have foolishly trusted will be broken, like the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.-A. R.
Ver. 7.-Divine deliverance. "But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen." The contrast between the king- doms of Judah and oflsrael, in their nature and destiny, is here expressly declared. For Israel there was no hope; although pardon awaited any m:in amongst that people who turned unto the Lord, for no nation has been so godless, no family so vicious, but that every penitent in it .may come with confidence to God. As for the kingdom, however, it was founded in rebellion against David's house, and therefore against the Divine purpose. Its distinguishing mark was idolatry; the calves at Bethel and Dau indicated its limits, and the counsols of God, through his prophets, had been ostentatiously rejected. Hence the time had come when the people should be given over to the heathen whose :worship they had chosen, and the words of the preceding verse announced their irrevocable doom. " I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away." Very different was the position of the house of Judah. With all their imperfections and sins, the Jews still frequented the sacred temple, and there by appointed worship bore witness to the existence and unity of the living and true God. Judah was, therefore, still to be God's ark, borne down the stream of time a~idst the debris of fallen empires, until he should come forth from it who was the Kmg of Judah, the Son of David, tho Redeemer of the world. The Jews were t0 be humiliated and punished for sin, yet they should not as a people be llestroyec\; am1 su 26 THE BOOK OF HOSEA, [oH, I.1-11.