The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 323

There ma:v be a vigorous intellect where there is " v&eillating heart affections easily hi won Rnd essily )ost, prone to transference hither and thither. , And religion we find pen:ons who strive t.o serve God Rnd mammon at the same time, or who seem to be earnl'st in the s<•rvice of God, and shortly &fter equally devoted to the incompatible service of God's enemy. Ill. THE MIBOHIEFS OF A DIVIDED HEART, 1. It is ruinous to the individual nature. No man ~n live an inconsistent life, such 88 a divided heart involves, without moral deter1orat10n. ~e loses self-respect and moral. dignity,_ 2, It is injurious to society. Men re?pect decis10~, _but they are repelled ~y its ?PPOSite,, and ~hey despise a professor of rohg10n whose spmt and demeanour are inconsistent with hie profession. 8. It is hateful _t? God, who says, "Give me thy heart," and who will accept no co1npromiee or composit10n. IT. THE CURE FOB A DIVIDED HEART. The only cure is a radical and severe one. Tlw heart must be withdrawn from God's rivals, and yielded, without reserve and with- out delay, to him who ha.s a right to it, and who claims it as his own. "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love I Here's my heart, Lord ; take and sea.I it- Seal it from thy courts above." T. Ver. 7.-" Foam 'Upon the water." A graphic and picturesque image is this, aptly setting forth the emptiness and transitoriness of that monarchy which was established at Samaria, in defiance of God's will; and which was continued by vacillating or by wholly idolatrous kings, with no regard to God's honour, to God's ordinances, to God's prophets and messengers. 1 THE PRINCIPLE FIOUBATIVELY ENUNCIATED. All persons and systems and prin- ciples which are opposed to God are doomed to perish. As the foam raised upon the surface of the torrent a.s it plunges over the rocks vanishes even whilst it is borne down by the SlViftness of the current, so all persons, things, and institutions which God con- demns as inimical to him5elf, as hostile to hie authority and reign, are destined to disappear and sink into the dark depths of oblivion. .As our Lord JesUB declared, making use of a different figure, " Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." 11 Acri:;AL EXEMPLIFICATIONS OF 'l'HIB PBINOIPLE. 1. The instance of the paseage from which the text is taken. The godless and often idolatroUB kingdom, established iii Samaria as its capital, comes to nought. 2. National examples abound. Peoples who have been unfaithful to their trust, or negligent of their privileges, or wavering in their policy, lulve come to nought. " And, like a snow-Hake on the river, One moment seen, then gone for ever." 3. Row many cases of individuals known to us exemplify the principle thus :figuratively set forth ! Brilliant gifts, fine opportunities, glowing hopes, and, at the same time, want of true principle, of thorough consecration to God.,-who has not seen.the combina- tion ? And who tlult has watched and followed such cases has not had occasion to remark that the laws of God cannot be violated with impunity, that the Lord reigneth, and that all which is not based upon a right relation with the supreme Lord and Saviour must surely come to nought, and be no more seen ?-T. Ver. 8.-Despair. The picture of the text is awful in the extreme. The condition of those to whom destruction and annihilation would be a relief is appalling to contem- plate. What fearful vengeance must be overtaking those, what indescribable forebod- ings must have taken possession of their nat_ure, who cry, "Mountains, cover us I Rocke, fall upon us ! " It is the language of despair I I. THE CAUSES OF DESPAIR. Much must have transpired before such a state of mind could exll:lt. There must lulve been (1) sin committed, (2) mercy rejected, (3) authority defied, (4) forbearance abused, before the soul of man could have abandoned it.self to hor,dessness like 1his. OR. X, 1-15.] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 823