The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 283

certainly m&ke themselves wings; they fly away as an eacr\e toward heaven." 2. The prosperity of the wicked lasts not long. Ephraim, compi~hendinit the ten tribes, hBd enjoyed great prosperity, and hRd smpassed Judah in numbers. 'l'hia was p[lrticuln.rly the CRSe in the reign of Jeroboam II., to which this Scripture may prolmbly refer. 'rhey had enjoyed prosperity so long, they thought it would last alway; yet it po.seed away as in a moment. 3. Let us s,•ek the glory tlmt is re.il and abiding. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his micrht, Jet not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he under- st.endeth and knoweth me, that I a'lli the Lord which exercise loving-kindness jud"- ment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the 'Lorl" 4. What reason we b&ve to bless God for his preserving care. " He preserved us in the very conception, preserved us in our mother's womb, and then in the_ birth; and then in the cradle, in our childhood, in our youth, in our middle age, and in our old age• for we lie at his mercy at every point of time." . ' " Thy providence my life sustained. Aud ell my wants redressed, When in the silent womb I lay, ' And hung upon the breast." Vers. 12-17.-" The wicked shall not go unpunished,n •If they escape one calamity, they are sure to be overtaken and overwhelmed by·another. • • : • I. CALAMITY oF A TWOFOLD KIND THREATENED. : There is: 1. Bereavement, and that of a most painful nature. 'J.1o be childless altogether, or to lose children in infancy, is sorrowful enough ; but to be bereft of children wheri they have grown up to man- hood or womanhood is an unspeakably greater sorrow. After labour, and trouble, and care, and thought have been expended in their upbringing; after all difficulties· have been smmounted ; and when sons have become like plants grown up in their youth, and daughters like comer-stones polished after the simiiit1,1de ofa 1palace; when· the conduct of both is characterized by dutiftllness, love, and obedience ; 'and 'When parents naturally expect-n:iuch help and comfort·from them, and havil'their affections twined round them -at such -a time, to be deprived of them eithet by a sudden stroke, or by slow disease, is a condition more than ordinarily sorrowful. • It' is only 'the grace of God in large measure that can sustain and support parents so afflicted·; _while the.-exercise cl' grace on their part has no doubt compensatory blessings. 'l'he bereave!Iient of Israel was to be complete-without a man left. li left, they might be left without the intellect of a man., or the physical strength of a man; they tnfght be· imbeciles or invalids, and thus in a worse condition than if not left a.t all. 2. "But ·a still· worse woe impends, namely, that of Divine desertion. This is God's withdrawal from a 'people or a person. When be thus withdraws, be withdraws bis goodness and mercy;,_ common graces, gifts, and comforts. When this withdrawal takes place we are utterly helpless; as the king of Israel said to the poor woman who ·cried for help, " If the Lord do not help thee; whence shall I help thee?" or as the apparition of Samuel to Saul," Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee?" We may pass through fiery trials, or be plunged in the deep waters of affliction;· but if we enjoy the Divine presence we need not be afraid. As long as the Lord of hosts is with us, and the Gcid of Jacob is our Refuge, we need not fear the raging of the great sea-billows, or the upheaval of the mountains, or even the shock of the 'earthquake. The sorest of all troubles is to be forsaken by God. Oh, how sad the lot of a man who, forsaken by God, i.s left in the power of his enemies! "I am sore distressed," ilaid the Unhappy monarch; "for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me." • • IL A COHPABISON INSTITUTED. Ephraim is compared to Tyre in prosperity, in position, in population, and in military prowess; and yet God was preparing to take his departure from them. 1. His presence maintains health, strength, and various other comforts; or if, in bis wise providence, he sees fit to withdraw any of these, he sanctifies tht withdrawal. But when God himself withdraws, then his mercies prepare for flight too; nor Is any bles~ing left behind. Not only so; even· when men are at the height of prosperity, M they think, God may be on the point of departing from them, as from Israel in tbe days of Jeroboam II., if we are right in referring ·this· com~arison of the prophet to that period. 2. How we should prize God's presence and pray for its OU. IX, 1-17,] 'l'HE 1JOOK OF HOSEA. 2ea