The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 222

CoNCLtr~roN. We require frequently to" examine ourselves, whetl1er we be In the faith." \'i'e ought constantly to holrl up before our eyes the clear mirror of Holy Scripture, !hat we may detect. the" f1;1'ey hairs." We must also see reflected in it the glorious form of the Lord Jesus, the one Image of perfect manhood. 1'here are no " grey hairs" upon him; "his locks are bushy, and black as a raven" (Caut. v. 11), We must seek grace to give ourselves constantly to the imitation of Christ.-O. J. Vers. 11-16.-Ephraim's folly and falseness. In this passage the Lord threatens the north<>rn kingdom for its unnatural and untheocratic policy of seeking support from the neighbouring heathen powers. These ver8es, therefore, deal primarily with the sins of the court and the government. 1'he nation is to be punished for- I. Pm,ITICAL INl" ATU ATION. (Vers. 11, 12.) The true resting-place of the common- wealth was in God; but Ephraim had wandered from him, and was fluttering about inconsiderately "like a silly senseless dove," now seeking help from Egypt and now from Assyria (2 Kings xvii. 3, 4). How prone are governments to lay stress upon statecraft and diplomacy, when they should be simply trusting in God and followin<r righteousness! Dr. Pusey aptly refers in this connection to "the balance of power 'i', which for so long a period controlled the policy of European statesmen. But this theory has of late years largely lost its influence, and given place to a policy of non-interven- tion, accompanied with an enormous increase of military armaments. The true balance of power will be established only when the nations everywhere acknowledge the king- ship of Christ, and deal with one another on the principles of justice and amity which his Law enjoins. As Ephraim was caught in the "net" of his own foreign entan<rle- ments-these becoming bis ruin-so will all those nations be that forget God, ~nd make flesh their arm. In the case of Israel, " their congregation had heard " the threat of such chastisement from Moses and the prophets; while modern states "hear" it from the \Vord of God, and witness its execution in the retributions of history. II. MonAL INGRATITUDE. (Vers. 13--15.) During the whole career of the Hebrew people God had lavished upon them his tender love and compassion; but they had requited him with the basest ingratitude. They had been unthankful and evil, although he was: 1. Their Redumer. (Ver. 13.) Jehovah had delivered them from Egypt ; he had protected them in the desert ; he had raised up the judges to repel their foreign oppressors; he had "saved" the northern kingdom "by the hand of .Jeroboam II., the son of J oash" (2 Kings xiv. 27). The Lord had constantly redeemed them ; and he was prepared to do so again, if they would but turn to him in penitence and faith. But, alas! Ephraim persisted in his apostasy, and by his idol-worship and insincerity "made God a liar," and his own national life also a lie. 2. The Giver of thei,r harvests. (Ver. 14.) In the time of prosperity Israel ignored Jehovah as the Author of fruitful seasons (eh. ii. 8). In the time of famine, however, the people in their distress wildly" howled" for bread; but if they cried to Jehovah at all, they did not do so" with their heart." 3. Their Physician. (Ver. 15.) Jehovah had acted towards Israel like a wise and skilrul surgeon. He bad seen their power enfeebled, like a relaxed or dislocated arm; and be had bound the arm, to make it once more strong and sinewy. Yet the first use to which Israel put the healed arm was to raise it to strike the Healer. \\7 hat a warning have we here against the sin of unthankfulness ! The Lord's reproach reminds us that apart from the grateful heart there ran be no true piety. Gr.. titude is insep:uable from faith in God. And the reflex influence of grati- tude upon the soul is to inspire and ennoble it. "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness ! " III. SrrnITUAL INSTABILITY. (Ver. 16.) The princes of Israel were constantly changing their policy; but they never, amidst_ all their ch_ange~, really turned towards God. 'l'he nalion often professed to seek btm, but their evil heart constantly drew them aside to idols. "They are like a deceitful bow," which has either been faultily constructed at the first, or the string of which has lost its elasticity, and which, there- fore, disappoints the archer by sending forth the arrow wide of the mark. So Ephraim had given a wrong direction to his whole spiritual life. 1'he nation had failed to accomplish the end for which God had chosen it. Its profession and its practice were at variance. Its am,11·s were not directed towards the Divine glory, and therefore it mUBL pn-,criily "fali lJy the sword," and suffer the" derision" of Egypt, in whom H OB. VD, 1-16.] ,. THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 221