The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 158

Ver. 13.-Human physicians help'less. The reference here is to both Israel and Judah ; for both kingdoms were alike suffering, alike guilty of reliance on human help ancl. deliverance, and alike in their experience of its utter vanity. . I. NATIO!\AL DISEASE AND SUFFERING. The language is, of course, figurative, but it is very expressive. Whoever reads the chronicles of the chosen people must become familiar with the civil troubles, afflictions, and disasters they were called upon to endure. Had they been faithful to God and to one another they would have been spared very much which they brought upon themselves of sorrow and of disaster. II. THE APPEAL TO POLITICAL PHYSICIANS. It was to Assyria that the Israelites were often so foolish as to appeal. Beset ,by Babylon on the ea.st and Egypt on the south, the Hebrews were often at a loss how to steer their course. Their danger was lest they should rely foc healing and for safety upon "an arm of flesh." It was not unnatural that they should do so; but it was wrong and foolish policy, as the event always proved. Ill. THE POWERLESSNESS OF THE NATIONS TO HEAL THE MALADIES AND WOUNDS OF lsRAEL. The children of the covenant gained nothing by going after other gods or by courting the alliance of heathen kings. These physicians, when called in, could effect no cure and could afford no relief. In this we discern a symbol of the powerlessness of all human friends and helpers to bring deliverance to the captive soul, health to the spiritually sick and suffering, relief to the burdened. "I have tried, e.nd tried in vain, Other we.ye to ease my pa.in." IV. THE LESSON OF THIS EXPERIENCE. It is an easy one to understand, but a difficult one to practise. We are summoned to cast aside all confidence in human helpers, and to rely simply and only upon the Divine Physician. In him is salvation; " There is balm in Gilead; there is a physician there." Christ is the Healer alike of body and of soul, of individuals and of nations; and his healing is both for time and for eternity.-T. Ver. 15.-Fruits of a.f!Udion. Prosperity is not so unmixed a blessing as men are prone to ima!!ine. It often withdraws the attention from the unseen world and the eternal future~ And, on the other hand, much as men may dread adversity, multi- tudes have had reason to be grateful for affliction. " Before I was afflicted I went astray," etc. I. AFFLICTION rs DIVINELY APPOINTED. The order of things, as a result of which troubles and privations befall men, is constituted by Divine wisdom. In the Hebrew 111anner of thought this fact is conveyed by the language put into the lips of Jehovah, "I will go and return to my place." "Let us be pat.ient; these severe afflictiona Not from the growid u.rise." on. v. 1-15.] 'l'H~ BOOK OF HOSEA. 157