The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 224

people around. Partaker's in gnilt, they would be partakers In p1mishn,eht. To us itlfo ~estrictions placed on their mn.rriage and th_eir commerce appear illiberal; but he wht> nnposed tb_em u~ders~~od the weakuess of tb!s people, a11d :,st1mated rightly the univai·- saltty 1md mtens1ty ol idolatry. Results Jnsllfied God's ordmauce. Jeroboam's residence in Egypt brought calf-worship into Israel; Ahab's marriage ,vith Jezebel introduced the rites of Baal and Ashtaroth. In Hosea's time the prople were le11vened by idolatry 1111,l the allusion here is to this fact, and not to the political alliances fotmed with beatbc~ empires, or to the conquest of_ parts of Israel's territory by idolatrous ki!l~s. To him loss o[ character "·as more ommous than loss of tcrntory. Israel was no lono-er worth J•reseFiu~. The object of their existe11c·e, to witness to the ouo livino- and true God could no longer be attained. The salt had lost its savour, and was hen~eforth o-ood fo; nothing. 'With their remembrance of Mosaic Law and their practice of idolatro~s rites they were like "a cak_c not_ turned ''.-irrenwdiably spoilt. Show from this the impor~ tance ot nght compamonsb1p, especially to those whose characters are in the formative stage. Jealously as parents watch against the iutrusion of one who is suJforino- from infecti?us disease, how much less watchful and firm are they against the introduction tn their homes of those whose presence cannot fail to be a source of' moral infection I -When the re:-ult of such ~ociation is not seen in outward depravity, _it is often seen in a wasted and frivolous life. The effect is gradually produced. The Rhine and the Arno flow side by side in the same channel without mingli~ their W:\ters ; but thdugh the swifter stream keeps clear for a while, at la.st it is defiled; and it is the turbid stream that conquers. "Gather not my soul with sinners;" "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." II. THE NATURE OF THIS SIN. The cake (uggah) was a thin circular pancake, exposed to the scorching heat of red-hot stones, and of necessity must be quickly turned, or it would be burnt on one side and moist dough on the other: spoilt, because not pene- trated. A good figure to represent this people, who knew God's La,v, remembered his worship, but were in practice idolaters. 'They refused to turn to God the other half, the practical part of their being. Give examples of those who have served God by halves; belonging neither to the world nor to the Church. In Elijah's days the people were impressed by the power of J ehova}l, yet loved the pleasures of idolatry; hence the question of the prophet," How long halt ye between two opinions?" Christ Jesus had around him those who admired his teaching; but they would· not risk being put out qf the synagogue, nor associate with illiterate peasants, nor follow One who would lead them to the cross ; so to them he said, "Ye cannot serve God an.d mammon." See also the condition of Laodicea (Rev. iii. 14-18). Such a character is discoverabl.e still, i11 those wbo join in worship, though in heart they neither pray nor praise; in those conscious of sin, yet not justified by faith; in those using the words of prayer; without an_v speaking to the Father who seeth in secret, etc. God seeks not for such. 'We are to he fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; whole-hearted in' all we offer to him'-not as Ephraim, the cake not turned. III. 'l'HE EFFECTS oF THIB sm. We are responsible for our unc-onscious influence over others. Our Lord condemned the scribes an<l Pharisees; "for," said he, "ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Better far would it have been had they been openly irreligious. Picture a man standing near the door of the ark-a wise and promi- nent man in antediluvian society, hesitating whether to believe Noah or the sceptics; while others wait to see his decision. How deep and loud their curses afterwards if he decided not to enter, or if he hesitated so long that it was too late for him and them! Apply this to modern life. A father bas children whose characters are rapidly forming; and he is not in the kingdom, though not far from it. They naturally say, ".We are waitinu for father· he is a hearer of the truth; he knows more than we ; he is an upright man; if it'be right to l,ie wholly on Christ's side he will be, so let us wait fot his decision." For the sake of others let procrastination come to an end, and be it yours to say with Jo,hua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." IV. THE PERILS OF THIS sIN. 1. You strengthen temptations against yourself. You say in effect to influences for evil," Don't give me up yet, for I am not decided." A c:rndidat<e, who in canvassing finds one voter who has ilot made ~P his mind, will, call again with others who have more infl.uence than himself, ;md the waverer is won over. 011. vn. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 223