The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 184

men. This would be a strange declaration if e.11 life was limited to this world by the abyss of the grave. Then it would seem as if we were created for eufferincr l\nd that the asrnrance, "God ie love," was a mockery. But we are destined to dwefi' near God eternally, to do in hie presence a service for which we a.re here being prepared; and anything which reminds ue of tha.t and fits us for it is to be received thnnkfully. A schoolboy does not see the good of his lessons. Some will be of no practical vl\lue, but they serye the purpose of mental discipline; a.nd he is wise who learns them e.11, for he is not fit to discriminate for himself. "We know not what we shall be," but we do know that "a.11 things work together for good." Ifwe see an artist beginning his work on the canvas, we ca.n make nothing of the first streaks of colour; but a glance at the fair scene before him helps us to know what he is aiming at. So a.re we to look off from our troubles to our Lord, who "learned obedience by the things that he suffered," and there find God's ideal for us. The cross of Calvary is the interpretation of the mystery of suffering. If we were told that griefs and joys were distributed promiscuously, that we must merely brace ourselves to bear "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," we should gain no moral good from obedience. If we believed that sorrow was to avenge sin, that it was the beginning of punishment from a vindictive God, we should have no hope. But we are assured that the griefs and losses of life come to us from him who " so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" to redeem it from sin; and so we believe that their design is in harmony with that great purpose. This which is true of the Christian life in its course is true of Christian life in its commencement. The misery of shame, the agony of penitence, constitute the broken heart and contrite spirit which is the pledge of God's love, the creation of God's Spirit. "He hath torn, and he will heal us; he bath smitten, and he will bind us up." III. THE PROMISE OF SOUL-HEALING. (Text.) When Telephus was defending his country against the Greeks, he was wounded by the spear of Achilles. The Delphic oracle declared that the hurt could only be cured by a touch of the weapon which caused it. The oracle was obeyed. Telephus humbled himself to his foe, and by the spear's touch he was healed. To those stricken-hearted by the thought of sin, this te:xJ comes with a message more worthy of trust than any from Delphi ; declaring that the wound was made, not in wrath, but in love; urging return, not to a foe, but to a Friend--ilven to "Jehova.11 Rophi," the Lord that healeth. Let us tum to no one else, lest we perish. If a surgeon were obliged to operate, his patient might filnch, and bid him hold his hand ; but true wisdom teaches him to trust, for be says to himself," Re has wounded, and he alone can heal." 'l'he troubled Christian comes to God in prayer, and bas the deep, sweet assurance that his Father is doing all things well, and straightway the bitterness goes out of his grief. The sorrowing sinner goes to Jesus' feet, and there is made glad by the declaration, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Adduce other examples. CoNcLUSION. In conclusion, let us lay stress on the exhortation, " Return unto the Lord." This must be a personal and deliberate resolve on the part of each. Trouble has no magical effect. It only gives opportunity and inclination for thought e.nd prayer. It does not of necessity turn us to God. The sun melts the wax, but it hardens the clay. The rain blesses some things, but destroys others. A child may be chastised, and yet be made stubborn, not penitent, by the discipline. So with God-sent griefs, inward or outward. You m.a.y forget them in gaiety, in work, in companionship, and never turn to God at all. You may be influenced for a time, but, like Ephraim, your goodness may vanish like the morning dew or the passing cloud. Think, therefore, of your present and pressing responsibility, lest your sorrow lead to_ the desp~ir of Judas, and 1Jot to the penitence of Peter. Your outward sorrows, your mward gnefs, are from hiw who loves you. "Come," then," and let us return unto the Lord: for ho bath torn, and he will heal us; he bath smitten, and he will bind us up."-A. R. Vers. 2, 3 (first clause).-17ie promised Dayspring. It is a happy thing that God's love always comes forth to meet man's longings. In the preceding verse Hosea had been urging the people to return to the Lord, but the exhortation would have been useless ha.d be not been able to add the promise in the text. If the soul of man had to struggle unaided to the throne of God and to win a revelation for itself, tbe task would have beeu hopeless. But it is not so. We are not like the idolaters who, on Mount Carmel, cut themselves with knives and lancets, and cried again and again," 0 Baal, hear us I" tlrt. vt. 1-11.] 'l'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. 18?,