The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 93

all the time of their vow; but the wor~hip1iers of idols-p1·iests and pco11le Rlike-al'e represented as drinking bowls or flagons of wine. Rrtisin-cakos, aweot nud luscious'' furwed parts of idolatrous repasts, and served as appetizing morsels in idol-feasts and: for idol-worshippers. How like the seductive pleasures of sin in general l But t,hoy ueither last long nor satisfy while they do !as$, The meat offerings of Mosaic ritu11l· were of a severer sort, and less calculated to gratify the taste and please the palate. IV. THE :MERCIFUL PROVISION MADE FOR ISRAEL IN THE SEASON OF HER SEPARATION. l f ~he prophet had already espoused the :woman whom he is directed to love, the pieces 0I ~1lver and measures of barley could neither be dowry, nor purchase, nor present in any ['roper scns~. How, t~en! are we to und~rstand the matter ii Probably we may regard tht> expenditure here md1cated as a su1t:\ble allowance for her support-a sufficient maintenance for her during the period of her separation from her husband. She may' now be conceived as living apart from her husband-shut out a mensa et a thoro, as it is said, and so deprived of her proper means of subsistence. During this sad state of things, which her own guilt has brought about, she is still the prophet's wife, and' neither forgotten nor forsaken by him. True, in one way she is unpitied and unde- serving of pity, because of her vileness, yet in another she is not entirely bereft of her husband's affection; in spite of her grievous departure from the path of rectitude and virtue, his love follows her, still striving for her reformation and yearnin"'O for her restoration. Meantime he provides her with nearly fifty bushels of barley for food and with nearly two pounds sterling in cash for raiment and other necessaries of life: 'l'he money and ~rain together would afford a sufficient,· though not very sumptuous, support. Thus God's treatment of his Israel is symbolized. Though they were separated by sin from his immediate presence, and"though they had· forfeited his favours and proved themselves unworthy of his love, yet he has .not entire}y and finally cast them off. His eye still rests upon them; his mercy provides for .them in their state of isolation ; they are deprived indeed of the honour and dignity they once enjoyed and might still have retained, and they possess no longer the means of living in luxury and splendour as aforetime, yet tbey are allowed the necessary ·means of subsistence aud an humble maintenance, with the prospect and for the purpose of their ultimate , cstoration to full favour, and unstinted possession of all· the. benefits 1md blessings still in store for them. • ' V. lsRAEL's SOLITABY AND SEQUESTERED STATE. Sbe is doomed to :sit in solitary widowhood. Restrained from all licentious intercourse on the one hand, 'she is not restored to conjugal rights on the other. She was not to be a harlot, neither was she to be a husband's. 'l'hat husband, however, still regards himself bound to her, and while she abides for him he promises her a like return: "So will I likewise ·be to theei ward." He would still have regard to her and respect for her; feelings of kindness "·ould animate him towards her; his gnard4n care and watchful providence would still be exercised on her behalf and for her benefit. 'l'he meaning and application of ver. 3 is well given in the following comment: "He, his affections, interest, thoughts; "ould be directed towards her. The word" towards" expresses regard; yet distance also, Just so would God, in those times, withhold all special tokens of his· favour, covenant, 1,rovidence; yet would he secretly uphold arid maintain them as a. people, and withhold tliem from falling wholly from him into the gulf of irreligion and infidelity." Sin is the cloud that darkens our sky and shuts out the bright light of our heavenly Father's countenance; yet behind the dark cloud of afflictive providence! he hides a. shining lace. . · VL THE CONDITIONS OF THE COVENAN'l; WHICH GoD MAKES WITH HIS PEOPLE. 1. We see here the Divine considerateness. • God might have made out a bill of divorce, and dismissed them at once and for ever. He does not deal with us with the rigour of law or in the strictness of justice, but according to the multitude of his tender mercies ;md loving-kindnesses. 2. The condition he proposes to us is that we be to him a people, and he will be to us a God. When punished for sin it is wise and well to justifrGod,.s ways with us; we must wait with patience, and that perhaps for many days, until God again lift on us the light of his countenance. But besides all thia, we must not turn again to folly, as Israel wa11 strictly e:µjoined to eschew harlotry in the future; in other words, to shun every form of idolatry in 3tl time to come. So, in dependence 'on· Divine grace, we mUBt resolve to foHow the Lotd fully, not wandering in the"wilderriess, no\ en. m. 1-G.] 'l'llE BOOK OF HOSRA. Dl