The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 343

the sis.very of sin (Titus Ii. 14). The very word "Redeemer," which is so dear to the renewed heart, wo.s first consecrated as a sacred name at the time when God "called his Son out of Egypt." 'l'o the Christian the song of Moses is also the soncr of the Lamb (Rev. xv. 3); a.nd the preface to the ten commandments (Exod, xx. 2)°expresses the most forcible a.nd yet tender of all inducements to lead a holy life. IV, To THE HOLY CATHOLIC CnuROH, The Church of Christ is the true Israel God's 11dopted firstborn son. And this world, in which the Church presently sojourn's may be compared to the land of bondage. It is "this present evil world;" and God's people look to be delivered from it, just a.s a.ncient Israel expected deliverance from Egypt. The time is fast coming when the Lord Jesus shall finally redeem his people from all evil. Often in the New Testament the word" redemption" is used to denote the consummation of the Church's hope. Jesus told his disciples that the occurrence of the signs of his second advent would announce to them that their" redemption was drawing nigh" (Luke xxi. 28). The whole Church is waiting for "the redemption of our body" (Rom. viii. 23). Here, though believers "serve the Law of God with their mind," they yet groan constantly under the burden of indwelling sin. But the hope of Israel-" that blessed hope "-is that Jehovah shall "call him out of Egypt." The Lord Jesus shall one day translate his Church to heaven-the land of perfect spiritual freedom and eternal joy, There bondage shall in every sense be gone for ever. So long as Israel is in this world, he is " a. child ; " but in glory he shall become a man, and " put a.way childish things." God loves him now as a child; and his adopting grace is the pledge that the ransomed Church shall one day stand by the glassy sea, and sing the song of Moses and the La.mb.-C. J. Vers. 1-4.-0rowned with tender mercies. This is an extremely beautiful passage. It recalls, in a few most touching expressions, Jehovah's love and condescension and tenderness towards his ancient people. But, alas! the very record of God's kindness becomes the means of throwing into deeper relief the blackness of Israel's sin. I. GoD's KINDLY DEALINGS WITH lsRA.EL, These had been manifested continually- in the infancy of the nation, during its childhood, and throughout its youth and manhood. Jehovah had been to the Hebrew people: 1. .A loving Father. (Ver. 1.) He loved them, and chose them to be his own inheritance. He spoke of Israel as bis "son," even during the bondage in Egypt (Exod. iv. 22). He showed his fatherly love by accomplishing for his people the grand deliverance of the Exodus. And the Lord. is the same still to the spiritual Israel. Those blessings which were shadowed forth in the theocratic adoption belong now to Christians. We are "predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself" (Eph. i. 5). The believer receives the nature of God. He bears his Name. He enjoys free access to him. He obtains needed protection and provision. Be is subjected to suitable training and discipline. And he has an eternal inheritance in reversion (1 John iii.1, 2). 2. A caref'li/, Nurse. (Ver. 3.) Jehovah had himself tended his son Israel during the forty years of childhood in the Arabian desert. He" bare him" (Deut. i. 31), "took him by the hand" (Jer. xxxi. 32), and tenderly supported him. As a. nursing father, he had used soft aud kindly leading-strings. He knew his people's needs. He was "touched with the feeling ot' their infirmities." He took upon himself the entire charge of the nation. For their schooling he gave them object-lessons-setting up the tabernacle and its ritual as a spiritual" kinderga.rten." When they wandered from him he brought them back, and patiently "healed them " from those distresses which their apostasy had entailed. And God is the same careful Nurse to his spiritual children. He bears the believer, and bears with him. The Holy Spirit teaches the child of God "to go," and "leads him in the wa.y everlasting." He raises him when he fa.Us, heals his bruises, and is "a very present Help in trouble." The path of duty may lead the believer into slippery places, but "underneath a.re the everlasting arms" (Deut. xxxiii. 27). 3. A kindly Monitor. (Ver. 4, firot pa1t.) If ver. 1 refers to the Exodus, and ver. 3 to the forty years in th0 wilderness, ver. 4 may be applied to Jehovah's dealings with Israel throughout his entire history a.s a nation. All a.Iona0 the Lord treated his people, not as prisoners or Hlaves, but as sons. He "drew them with cords of a man;" i.e. his methods of govern- ment were humane, and had their seat in reason. He drew them'' with ban,ls of loY0;" i.e. his arguments or influences were tender and persuasive. The mercies shower~J  344 THE BOOK 01'' HOSEA. [CH. XI. 1-12,