The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 165

the great were direct temptations put in the way or the people. What shall we say of the countenance given by many in high posiUons in our own land to the turf, to, demoralizing ~ports, to gambling institutions, to Sunday festivals, etc.? The toleration- and licensing of vice by public authorities is the spreading of a "snare." Every effort should rather be made to remove stumbling-blocks from the midst of a community. 3. By direct aolicitatim to evil. The vicious take a wicked delight in seducin:' others. They gloat in seeing the innocent brought down to their own level. They a~e active and unremitting in compassing men's destruction. They cannot bear that any 8hould remain to be a rebuke to them. Hence the ensnaring influence of evil companionships. God, however, declares that the ensoarers in Israel shall not escape his judgment. "Judgment is toward you." He will dig a pit for those who are digging pits for their fellows. He will take them in their own net, and destroy them suddenly (Ps. vii.11- 16 ; ix. 15, 16). II. GoD IS :MORE PROFOUND THAN THE PLOTTERS. (Vera. 2, 3.) The revolters in Israel were "profound to make slaughter." They laid their plots deep. They concocted conspiracies (eh. vii. 3-7) and planned deeds of blood (eh. vi. 8, 9). They thought that no one knew of their doings. But God was more profound than they were. " I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me." They would find him "a rebuker" of them all. All their sins were "naked and open" to him-their plottings, their" whore- dom," and everything else. 1. The wicked pride themselves m their deep cunning. They imagine that their deeds are wrapped in impenetrable darkness. They n.re strong in a fancied security. They think no one can find them out. 2. They forget about God. All the while God is watching their doings; be is privy to their most secret counsels; he knows how to counterwork and defeat their plots ; he will at last " bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil" (Eccles: xii. 14-). III. GoD IS NOT REGARDLESS OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO KNOW HnL (Vera. 4, 5.) l. The sinner puts God out of his thoughts. Israel had turned its back on Jehovah. It would not know him. "They will not frame their doings," etc. The caruie of this was the evil heart of unbelief in the people, lead.iDg them to depart from the living God. "The spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them." The o.lternative rendering of the clause first suggests that, once the sinner has embarked on evil courses, he finds it tlifficult again to leave them: "Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God." The "spirit of whoredoms" binds the transgressor in love to ways that are not right. These fix themselves as habits, customs. The latent sense of wron;i;-<loing in the mind will not allow of further debate with conscience. The sinner, in this condi- tion, is apt to think that, because he has succeeded in forgetting God, God has forgotten him as well. 2. God, however, is not forgetful of the sinner. With the latter it may be " out of sight, out of mind;" but there is neither" out of sight" nor " out of mind" with God. The "pride of Israel" here (ver. 5) and in oh. vii. 10 is best interpreted -after the analogy of the similar expression, "excellency [pride] of Jacob,n in .Amos viii. 7-of God himself, Israel's glory. Israel had forgotten God, but God remembered Israel, acd testified against it "to its face." He testified now (1) by reproofs; and would testify afterwards (2) by judgments. "Therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall: in their iniquity." What applied to Israel applied also to Judah-" Judah also shall fall with them; " and applies to every sinner. God testifies to the sinner of his sins, , of his ingratitude, of his folly, and of his certain punishment. This, through conscience, in the Word, by the Spirit, by the reproofs of his servants. IV. GoD OAN WITHDRAW HIMSELF WHEN :MEN SEEK. (Vers. 6, 7.) 1. The time would come when, convinced of its folly, Israel would begin to seek eagerly after God. " They shall go with their flocks and with their herds," etc. 2. But it would then be too late. "He hath withdrawn himself from them." 'l.'he reason why God would thus withdraw himself would be that there was no sincerity in their approach. They would come with flock11 and herds, but not with the essential sacrifice--the contrite spirit. The character of Israel was not such as held out any hope of genuine repentance. "They have dealt;. treacherously against the Lord," etc. (ver. 7). The right time to seek the Lord is while he "waits to be gracious." After that it is too late (Prov. i. 24-34). 3. They would be cut off in a Hhort time, and in the very midst of their sacrifices. " A month shall devour them with their portions" (cf. Zech. x.i. 8).-J. 0,  lG4 THE DOOK OF HOSEA. [oH, v, 1-lu,