The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 317

for II tirue secmed to be oo 6Uocessful, involved Israel in an inheritance of shame. (3) J)espair. (Ver. 8.) The c.alamities that were impending would bo so dre11dful, that thouAAnds of the people would choose death rather than life. To dio outright they would hail as a welcome relief from their burden of wretchedness and shame. They would desire thRt the hills upon which their idol-altars had stood might not merely hide them. but o'l"erwhelm and destroy them. LEs~oNs. 1. The spiritual dangers which accompany materie.l prosperity. "Jeshu- run wax<'d fat, and kicked" (Dent. xxxii. 16). It is difficult to carry the full oup steadily (ver. 1). 2. The necessity, in order to a me.n'e spiritual well-being, that he "keep his hoart with all diligence" (ver. 2). 3. The sadness which comes from learn- ing the truth too late, and the horrors of a too-late repentanoe (ver. 8). 4: The difi'u- i;i ve and self-disseminating power of evil (ver. 4). 6. The mourning of the wioked is for their losse5 rather than for their sins (vers. 6, 6). 6. 'fhe one true security and i;trength of II nation consists in the fear of God (vers. 3, 7). 7. The judgment denounced here upon the ten tribes, like that of the destruction of Jerusalem by the llomans, is a type of the fine.I genera.I judgment (ver. 8; Luke u:iii. 30; Rev. vi. 16). -C.J. Yers. 9-15.-.National P"osperity and cal,a,mity. In this pe.ssage, for the second time (vide eh. ix. 10), the prophet starts with e. brief reminiscence of former de.ye, and then proceeds to deliver an urgent exhortation to present duty ; but all serves merely as II be.sis for more denunciation and announcement of retribution. I. THE IDEAL LIFE OF A NATION. (Ver. 12.) Although this verse is in the first instance a summons to Israel to repent and reform, we may view it as indicating also what the life of every commonwealth ought to be. 1. Its activities. Foremost amongst these is: (1) The pursuit of godliness. The ideal nation" seeks the Lord," and recog- nizes that always "it is time" to do so. It acknowledges Jehovah as its supreme King. It aims at making all the legislation upon its statute-book in harmony with the laws of the Bible. Tbe Lord of hosts regards such a country as" a delightsome land" (Me.L iii 12). "Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord" (Ps. c:xliv. 15). (2) The culiivatiori. of moral,ity. "Sow to yourselves in righteousness." Ploughing and sowing and reaping in this passage denote the moral conduct of the community. And the one great principle which should determine the activities of a ne.tion should be that of" righteousness." Its supreme aim should be, not the accumulation of wealth, nor the acquisition of power and prestige, but the establishment of righteousness. It should strive after what is true and just and equitable in everything. (3) The aaomplishment of nudfvl reforms. "Break up your fallow ground." The model nation looks out for new soil as well as for right seed, and for that Divine influence which is necessary to the harvest. Ail soon as it discovers any neglected portion of its own life, it will endeavour to subject that to spiritual husbandry, and bring it into cultivation. It will be continue.lly anxious to reform, wherever it finds at any time that reform is necessary. But the life of the model nation has also: 2. Its rewards. (1) The Lord W'l,U "oome" to the community that seek him. He will dwell among them, and be "unto them a wall of fire round about." He will" come" in Christ, the Kiog of nations; and by the Holy Spirit, who is the principle of the life of every godly commoowealth. (2) The holy nation shall rea.p a harvest of mercy. They shall gather mercy as the fruit of the good seed of righteousness which they have sown. 'l'he best of men, when they have done their best, are "unprofitable servants;" so that the rewards which shall accrue from their works of faith and love must be all of grace. But the harvest shall be a glorious one; for it shall be proportionate, not only to our humble sowing, but to God's infinite mercy. (3) They shall receive a rain of righteousness. Wherever the Lord Jesus comes as King, he brings with him this blessing (Ps. lxxil. 1-7). Wherever the Holy Spirit dwells, he" creates a clean l1eart," and "renews a right spirit" (Ps. li. 10-12). The people that sow righteous• ness sow "to themGelves;" for "to him that soweth righteousness she.ll be a sure reward" (Prov. :xi. 18). In proportion to their willingness to "do God's will," shall thty "know of the doctrine," and reap its blessed fruits in their hearts e.nd lives. 'l'!,(, angle of reflection shall be eque.l to the angle of incidence; that is, their obedien..:e i;La:J Le the measure of their aB11urance aod of their rewar<l. OH, X, 1-15,] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 317