The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 292

I. BY WHOM APPOINTED. The watchman is placed at hie post by authority. "I have set thee a wntchm1m," is the ut,teranC'e of the Lord himself. The minister of Uhrist prefaces hie connsels 11ind mdmonitions, as did the olden prophets theirs with the assertion "Thus snith the Lord." ' II. OVER WHOM STATIONED. The Hebrew prophet testified to the Hebrew people. 'l'here is no limit to the commission of the Christian preacher, who is bound to witness to Jew and Gentile, to•young nnd old, etc. III. WITH WHAT FUNOTION CHARGE». St. Paul describes this when he writes of spiritual pa.store and overseers, "They watch for your souls, as those who shall give nccount.'' , Warning of the temptations which 11Seail, counsels regarding the way of escape and the promises of deliverance,-thelle form a large part of the duties of the spiritual watchman's sacred office. IV. ·WITH WHAT RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED. The' watchman who fulfils his trust is permitted to cast the responsibility upon those to whom he ministers. It is for them to take warning. If they do so, they will escape ; if not, their blood will be upon their own head. • V. OF WHAT TREATMENT DESERVING. For his work's sake, for his messag~•s sake, for his Master's sake, he merits'a respectful hearing and a grateful regard. No super- stitious reverence attaches to hie person, but his office is a sacred office, and the herald is honoured when he faithfully carries his message to sinful men. , VI. •THE'PEltSdNAL PROBATION IN'VOLVED. Let it not be forgotten by him who is stationed upon the walls as a watchman entrusted with souls, that he also, as well as those to whom. he•mirtisters, is upon bis trial. By faithfulness he may deliver his soul, whilst' he secures the .safety of the people and the approve.I of the Lord. By unfaithful- ness he may not only be the means of ruining others; he may incur the displeasure of God, and may bring down upon•himself the sentence doe to disobedience or remissness. APPLI0ATION, , 1. The watchman is admonished to watch. 2. Those who hear his warning are· entreated: to give heed to what they hear, and thus escape the dac.gers of this probationary life; and avail themselves of the opportunities of salvation.-T. Ver; 117.-" Watnd&rers 'r11mong•the nations.n Whether or not there was present to the mind of the prophet the actual fate which bas overtaken his countrymen, it seems plain tha.t the Spirit within him uttered in these words a doom of which long centuries have beheld the awful fulfilment; · We see here-- I. NATIONAL CONTINUITY. The Hebrews were, and are, treated as one people. God visited, and still visits, the sins of the fathers upon the childran. The Israelites- who apostatized were one generation; the Israelites who suffered the ills and privations of captivity were another generation. Generation after generation of Israel's sons have been "scattered,"" wanderers among. the nations "-a fate incurred by the obstinate unbelief of their forefathers, who rejected and crucified the Son of God. This is no doubt a very mysterious arrangement of Providence; but we must acknowledge it a.s an indisputable fact. II. DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS. God is a Ruler, a moral Governor, who never abdicates his• regal and judicial functions. The prophets were inspired to insist upon this great fact with emphasis and with repetition. A covenant God, a God delighting in mercy, yet threatens his chosen' people thus: "I will cast them away, becall!,e they did not hearken unto me: and they shall be wanderers· among the nations.'' People, hearing from preachers of the gospel much about the pity and the love of God, sometimes scarcely believe in the equity and the moral sway and reign of him who is supremely just. Nevertheless, he will viudioo.te his government, he will assert his authority, and under his rule the wicked "shall not go unpunished.n III. DIVINE TRUTHFULNESS AND FORESIGHT. The language of the text has been so exactly verified that it might have been written after the event. Inspiration only could have written it before. Human sacracity might have predicted the captivity; only Divine foreknowledge could have predicted the dispersion. 'rhus in the process of tiroe God's Word becomes its own warrant. IV, PURPOSE AND PREPARA'l'ION FOR NATIONAL RESTORATION AND RETURN. \Vhy nre the Jews kep~ separate from the peoples in who~e _lands they dwell? Surely" he who scatteret.h w1l~ gather them" I It is the expectation of some that the Jews shall 292 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [OH, IX, 1-17,