The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 85

Vere. 5-9.-The philosophy of the Divine chastisements. The punishment of Israel while retributive, was designed e.lso to be reformatory. It would display the Divin~ wisdom. Consider- I. THE DELUSION UNDER~YING ISRAEL'S D~VOTION TO T1;[E IDOLS. (Vers. 5, 8, 12.) 1. 'l'he nature of the delusion. The root of 1t was the notion that her prosperity was attributable to the e.ssiduity of her service of the idols. It was they, she thought, who had given her her corn and wine and oil, her bread and water, her wool and flax. She ignored the real Giver. The delusion is not uncommon. Men put natural laws, second co.uses, their own skill e.nd power, or the skill and power of others, in place of the living God. They forget him. 2. The sources of the delusion. (1) Ignorance of the true God. Israel had parted with the right knowledge of Jehovah (eh. iv. 6). She had: it not, because she did not wish to have it (cf. Rom. i. 28). (2) Corrupt propensities. The state of the heart pointed out the way for the devotions. The heatben iclols wers more congenial objects of worship than the spiritual, holy God. 3. The effects of the delusion.· The prospeiity which the people enjoyed confirmed them in their adhesion to the Baals. It led them to redouble their aBSiduity in ·serving them (ver. 5). It led them increasingly to disregard the true Giver. Hence the necessity for breaking up the delusion by withdrawing the gifts. II. THE DIVINE DEALING AS DIRECTED TO THE BREAKING UP OP THIS DELUSION. (Vere. 6, 7, 9.) God declares that he will: 1. Block up Israel's way in pursuit of her idol,. " Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns," etc. (ver. 6). That is, he would put bars and difficulties in the way of the service of the idol-gods. He would interrupt and suspend their worship. He would break up the sense of fellow- ship with them. He would do this by means of afflictions. The effect would be to shatter the dreams of the worshippers. They would find to their discomfiture that the service of the idols was not all bliss. They would be led to consider de novo what they should do. Unexpected checks in the pursuit of favourite objects are among God's means of inciting ue to reflection. 2. Take away from her the blessings which are the chief support of her del11,Sion. (Ver. 9.) The removal of the corn and wine and oil, in fulfilment of the threatening, would show that these blessings were from Jehove.h, and were not the gift of the idols. They must be his, else he could not thus take them away. Conversely, the inability of the idols to prevent this deprivation, or to restore the gifts, or to help their devotees in the time of need, would demonstrate the futility of putting trust in gods that were no gods. The removal of earthly bless• ings is intended in this way to work for our good. God seeks by it to break up false confidences. He would dispel our illusions. He would teach us dependence. He would lead us to recognize in him the only Giver of our good. Ill. 'rHE BEHAVIOUR OF IBRAEL UNDER THIS DIVINE DISCIPLINE. (Ver. 7.) 1. A first effect would be to make Israel more earnest than ever in pursuit of her idol-gods. "0 Baal, hear ue I" (2 Kings xviii. 26). Dawning conviction has often this result. The heart is slow to believe the.t it has been so utterly befooled.. It tries hard to defeat God. 2. The second effect-when she had had full experience of thi; inability of the idol-gods to help her-would be to lead her to bethink herself of returning to Jehove.h. "I will go and return to my first husband," etc. She sees now, like the prodigal (Luke xv. 17, 18), the folly of her past conduct; she realizes its wickedness; she feels that it was better with her formerly than now, and that "the way of tI'I\I18- gressors is hard" (Prov. xiii. 15). So, cured of her delusions, she returns to her Lord. He, in turn, is rca,ly to receive her. This was the end to which the whole discipline pointetl. Goel is equally willing to receive every sinner who returns to him (Isa. Iv. 6, 7). The experience of the bitterness of the fruits of sin is desi~ed to lead to repentanct'. Well for the trans~l'eRRur when chaRt,iR11ment produces in him the result here described! -J.0. llOBEA, G  82 'l'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. [ OH, U, 1-23.