The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 346

Parmta. The fl\mily bond is love. Wo must throw "cords of a. man" around our children, if we would train them to live t.o the Redeemer. Our training must be humane, and in harmony with the moral nature of its subjects. A father ought as soon as possible, to enlist his child's reason on tho side of obedience, When ~ur children do well, let us praise thorn without stint. When they do wrong, and we must show d1spleasuro, let us welcome the earliest tokens of penitence, and be very ready to forgive. Next to Divine grace itself, the bands of paternal love are tho strongest that can attract the child-heart. 2. Te,a,chers. Humaneness of spirit is the mainspring of an educator's influence. The most effectul\l stimulus to learn is not that whioh is supplied by the rod, but that which is given by the "cords of a man." The secret of Dr. Arnold's influence at Rugby was his intense human sympathy, added to the regal supremacy of bis spiritual character. In sabbath school work, especially, we must use these " cords" and " bands;" we must come to our classes " in love, and in the spirit of meekness." 3. Pasto1·s. The preacher is to be himself a man, every inch of him. His influence in the community ought to be a masculine influence. He is to be "a. preac~er of right:;ousness." And h~ must take car~ to_ use ''. bands of love." :Jilis life- \\"ork 1s to "wm souls; a.nd there 1s no way of wmmng without love (1 Cor. xiii. 1). Like the high priest, the pastor ought to be one "who can bear gently with the ianora.nt and erring" (Heb. v. 2). No Christian teacher has ever been more successful tha.n the Apostle Paul; and Pa.ul drew "with cords of a. man" (1 Cor. ix. 19-23), and "with bands of love" (1 Tbess. ii. 7, 8). 4. Employers. This relationship, alike in business and domestic life, should be characterized by kindness. Masters ought to "forbear threatening" (Eph. vi. 9), and extend sympathy and confidence to their workmen. The responsibilities of an employer do not end with the punctual payment of wages. He is not to think of his workmeu merely a.s " hands,'' i.e. as machines by using which he hopes to make money; but rather a.s bis own flesh and blood, in whose welfare be ought to take a warm interest. And so, also, in the sphere of domestic service. Mis- tresses ought to treat their servants as pa.rt of the family, and see to their comfort as they see to their own. Happiness will enter our households through the door which has written over it these wcrdil : "I drew them with bands of love." 5. Neighbours, in their mutual intercourse. We who profess to be Christ's people ought to show the grace that dwells in us by striving to be eminent in courtesy and gentleness. We ought to be so even to the ungodly and profane, and to those who treat us as enemies. "A soft answer turneth away wrath." A.nd if love is the fire that will melt a.n enemy, is it not also the tie which binds believers together into a goodly fellowship? A strong and healthy Church is one the members of which "increase and a.bound in love one toward :rnother, and toward all men" (1 Thess. iii. 12). • CoNcLcSioN. To draw with these "cords" and "bands" is always, a.t least, self- rewarding. It is true that love will sometimes fail with its object. Jehovah himself failed with Ephraim during long centuries. Similarly, some whom we attempt to draw may say persistently, "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." In such circumstances we ought to remember that duty is ours, and that results are with God. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my Strength" (Isa.. xlix. 5).-C. J. Vers. 5-7.-The Divim goodness despised. Ephraim bad acted as if the mercy of God were unconditional; and he persistently contravened the one condition, viz. repentance, upon which a.lone that favour could be continued. He was thus guilty of despising the Divine loving-kindness; and hence these words of grievous denunciation. \Ye learn from them- L THE FOLLY oF CARNAL OOh'FIDENCEB. (Ver. 6.) 'l'he ten tribes had followed "their own counsels," but these were the result of wicked infatuation. 'l'be calves wLicb the men of Israel kissed led to the national ruin. Egypt would aITord the tribes no asylum; there was no hope of relief from her as an auxiliary against Assyria. It we.a indeed strange that the people should.,,think of returning to E~ypt, the land of tht:ir ancient bondage. Now, however, they a.re to endure a. more dreadful tyranny than th~ir fathers Lad suffered there. The devouring sword of the Assyrian is to make the round of tbe cities of Israel. The northern kingdom, with its rich territory and its sacred places-Shiloh, Sbechem, Eba.l and Gerizim, Sharon, Carmel, and the valley of Jezreel- on. xz. 1-12.] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 847