The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 230

Ver. 11.-The si1liness of sin. "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart." "There is much force and beauty in this comparison of Ephraim to a 'silly dove without heart,' or mther without understanding, which when pursued by a bird of prey trusts to the rapidity of its flight; that is, relies upon its own powers for the means of escape, instead of at once throwing itself into the nearest rece8s, where the inter- ference of man or the narrowness of the place might render it secure from molestation. Israel, instead of taking shelter under the wing of the Almighty, who is a God near at hand, and not afar off, rested his hope of defence upon the celerity of his movements -stre1ching his wing towards Assyria or Egypt; but in the length of the lligl,t is overtaken, secured, and dies in the cruel talons of his unrelenting pursuer"(' Pictorial Bible'). The passage may be used to illustrate the si1liness of sin. Men under the influences of sin are as silly as the dove. What do naturalists say about the dove? L IT IS TOO BILLY TO DEFEND ITS OWN. Most creatures will stand by their young and fight for them to the last, but the dove, it seems, cares but little for them, and allows them to be captured without resistance. Ephraim bad sunk into this state; his most distinguished blessings were going from him, and he struggled not to retain them. The sinner will not battle with the devil to defend his own-bis force or thought, his sensibility of conscience, his freedom of will. his purity of love ; be allows these precious things to be taken from him without a struggle. II. IT IS TOO BILLY TO FEEL ITS LOSS, It is said that the dove will lose its nest and not feel it. The tree seems as attractive to it without its nest as with it. Men unrler the influence of sin do not feel their loss. Though sin has broken up their nest, they still strive to make the world a resting-place. Whatever is taken from them, they still cling to earthly things. III. IT IS TOO SILLY TO ESCAPE DANGER. More dull than other fowls, it discovers not its perils; it" hasteneth to the snare, and knoweth not it is for her life" (Prov. vii. 23). Thus it was with the ten tribes politically, and thus it is with all souls morally in their fallen state. They will not flee to the right place of safety-too silly to be calm under trial. It is said of the dove that it has not courage to stay in tbe dove-house when frightened, where it is safe under the careful protection of its o"ner, but flutters and hovers, seeking rest first in one place and then in another, and thus exposes itself to new and greater dangers. Thus with Ephraim: instead of settling down under the protection of God, he hurried forth in quest of foreign help, and was the more exposed to calamities and ruin. Thus, too, with souls under the influence of sin. CONCLUSION. Sin is folly. The fool and the sinner are, in God's vocabulary, convertible terms. Oh, how sad it is to see human souls hovering and fluttering about like silly doves, with no sense of their loss, no resting-place, no security, no peace! " A soul immortal spending ell her fires, Wasting her strength in strenuous iclle!!es11, Thrown into tumult, raptured, or e.le.rmed, At aught this ecene can three.ten or indulge, Reeemblee ocean into tempest wrought, To waft a feather or to drown a fly." (Young,) D.T. Ver. 12.-The fowler of retribution. "When they shall go, I will spread m_v net 'lpon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven." This should be translated, • As they go I spread my net over them; I bring them down as fowls of the heavens" ~Keil and De!itzsch). "As they go." Whither? "The prece<ling verse answers thu 1uestion: to Egypt and Asshur seeking help in their difficulties rather than to rehovah. Israel, here spoken of as Ephraim, being sorely pressed by Asslrnr, at 011" ime seeks help from Egypt against Asshur; whilst at another they try to secure the riendship of the latter, For what threatened Israel was the bnrdeu of 'the kine!: f princes.' And that they tried to avert, partly by their co11uettish arts (eh. viii, 9),  230 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [wr, va. 1-16.