The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 62

to do them good &t the latter rnd, lf, too, like ler11el, we ):mt '!\Way sin, the l\ccurscd thing_ within us, we _may confidently hope for God's presence with us, l\nd power to prevail <n-er all en<>mte~ around us. Mortifying sin expo ls the troubles from tho camp; "trouble for si~, if it be sincere, opens & door of hope, for that sin thl\t truly troubles us shall not rum us." II. REnEw OF Goo's DEALINGS WITA: IsRA'l!:L. In the gtroni:i; languo.ge of prophecy, Jsrael bad been married to God, but had proved unfaithful; going after other lovers, and thus committing; spirit-ual adultery, which· is idolatry. Her unfaithfulness had exposecl her to the just judgments of God, issuing in her captivity. 1. From the fourteenth Yerse to t~e close of the pre~ent chapter, however, promises of mercy take the·•place of drnunc1at1on and reproof. Because of Israel's adultery God had threatened her, with a bill of divorce; but now he allures her, that i~, woos her agnin, as a. young man a maiden whom he means to ruake his wife, and in the sequel actually renews that rclat.ionship, as we learn from the words, "At that day thou shalt call me Ishi ,,_.... my l lu~band." He here dwells with complacency on his mnnner of dealing with her when· alluring or wooing her in order to make her his wife. Having brought her into the wilderness, or a state of trouble and distress, and thereby humbled her, he wins her h.,.art, not merely by pleasant words, but by most valuable presents. 2. These precious gifts are comfort, hope, and joy. These are the present manifestations of bis lovEl which he promises to bestow on Israel. He gives, or rather restores, the vineyards which had been forfeited; that is to say, he gives not only necessaries but delights, not on!_,. subsistence but abundance. Vineyards affording wine, which comforts and makes glad the heart of man, imply oomfo,·t, with the subsidiary notion of rest and peace, from the figure of men sitting restfully and peacefully under their own vine and fig tree. The second gift is hope. A door of hope, wide and effectual, is opened before God's people, and they are privileged to enter in. The third is joy, spiritual joy, so that they have good ground and a right disposition to celebrate with songs· of joy the praises of their :Maker, who is at once their heavenly Husband and gracious Benefactor. 3. We must, however, note the manner of bestowal. It takes place after much trouble and great abasement. He gives " her vineyards from thence," the -reference being to the wilderness mentioned in the preceding verse. After difficulties and distresses in a land where they bad been hardly bestead. and a condition in which they had been much straitened, they would have comforts of a most valuable kind.- • lt'urther,-the valley of Achor denotes the valley of trouble, and derives its name from having been the scene where God troubled the troubler -0f Israel, when Achan, who by his sin had troubled the host of Israel, was Etoned to death. Sin is the soul-troubler still; and when sin is slain and forsaken, with sorrow -0f heart and bitterness of repentance, the door of hope flies open. Just as the valley of Achor was the door of hope to Israel, inasmuch as it was the first place they got possession of on entering Canaan, and inas- much as, valley of trouble though it was, it became the source of much good to them; so the valley of trouble and humiliation is often the opening up of hope and comfort to the believer. Conviction of sin causes trouble. The awakened sinneris troubled by a sense of guilt and fear of deserved wrath; but such troubling opens the· door to con~ version and comfort. 4. The history of Israel repeats itself in the history of God's people still. (1) The trials of the wilderness were past, and Israel anticipated !est and hnppiness in the land of promise, but on the very threshold a sore troubl? a"'.a1ted them. So with ourselves; we may fancy trouble past, and flatter ourselves with future happiness, at the very time when other great and sore troubles are awaiting U~•· (2) As lsrael got vineyards from the wilderness, so God prepares" us for great mercies by sore troubles or severe afflictions. "'l'he afflictions of the saints are not only harbingers of mercies, but doors of hope to let in mercies, means to advance their progress. God commanrls li<>:ht to shine, not only after darkness, but out of darkness. Joseph's 1irison, David's persecution, Daniel's den, made way for the glorious mercies God had in store for them." Many a one can say, "The undoing of worldly prosperity has been the making of me in religion ; "in times of trouble, therefore, it is our duty to be patient, and our privi!eae e"l'tln to- be joyful. (3) Instead of "door of hope," tho Septuagint translates, .!'to open their understanding;" and, though an inaccu1:ate rendering, it conveys the meaning of God's having opened tbo underst_andmg of lsrael to perceive the i;infulnes3 of sin, God's hot displeasure against 1t, the OH. II, 1-23,J THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 59