The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 386

unsubstantial os the" viewless air." Such person■ call evil good, and commit the sin of forsaking the fountain of living waters, and hewing out to themselves broken cisterns wbioh can hold no water, II. A FOOLISH PUnsmT, As 11re a. man's conceptions of excellence snch we may expect will be his life. It is natural that we should seek that which we deem good. Seekers of satisfaction in the plea.ijures of sin, if they could but understand their real life, would see themselves to be cha.sing the east w_ind. All earthly aims, when substi- tuted for God's glory-the one true end of our existence-are 1l!lwortby of our nature and undeserving of our devotion. ' III. AN UNSATISYYING BEWABO. To swallow the wind is a poor substitute for ea.tin er suitable and sustaining food. And sooner or later every person who has given himself to the quest of worldly and selfish aims must discover their utter vanity, their inability to afford a true and lasting satisfaction. When the illusions of earth and time have vanished, and men stand face to face with eternal realities, how empty a.nd unworthy will appear what has so often inflamed their desire and excited their strenuous effort I Anticipating so clear a judgment, let the hearers of God's Word be wise in time.-T. Ver. 3.-Power with God. The prophet here introduced a reference to Ja.cob, one of the ancestors of the chosen people, in order to encourage his descendants to apply for mercy to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. The Eternal and Unchange- able remained the same; and what God had done for the ancient saints he was willing to do for their posterity. 'l'he expression used with regard to Jacob deserves attention: "In his strength he put forth power [or, 'prowess'] with God." I. WHENCE POWER WITH Goo PROCEEDS. 1. From a sense of need and dependence on the pa.rt of the suppliant. He who needs much and sorely will plead powerfully. 2. From a conviction of Divine bounty and kindness. He who approaches an unwilling or niggardly person, with the view of asking from him a boon, loses ha.If his ene~~'Y by the consciousness of the illiberal character to which he appeals. But he who cumes to God .comes to a King of boundless resources, a. Father of in.finite compa.ssion ; and the knowledge of this should prompt to urgent entreaty. II. How POWER WITH Goo MANIFESTS ITSELF. At Peniel and at Bethel Jacob proved himself a true suppliant; .witness his "wrestling" at the one place and his "vow" at the other. We have no power to command God, but we ha,ve power to entreat him. We may feel our feebleness, but if our prayer be sincere, ardent, and per- severing, it will have power with the Eternal. "Yield to me, Lord. for I am weak, But confident in self-despair." III. WHAT IT IS WHICH POWER WITH Goo BECUBES. 1. Persona.I forgiveness a.nd acceptance. Abcve a.II things the suppliant sinner craves for this. To be in the light of the Divine favour is, of all things, the most urgently desirable. 2. The supply of every real need. 3. The relative blessings sought in intercessory prayer. APPLICATION. Lot not the thought of God's greatness cripple the energies or daunt the heart of the lowly applicant for mercy. Great as be is, he delights to be conquered by the urgent entreaties of his children. "And when my all ofstrength shall fail. I shall with the God-Man prevail" T. Ver. 6.-" T'llll'n thoo•1, to thy God." If there is one message more frequently repeated than another in the Scriptures, bcth of the Old and New Testaments, it is this message requiring repent(]lf1,c,e, There has been no generation of men, nay, there has been no individual ma.n, to whom it might not justly be said, Repent I J. HUMAN CHARACTER AND LIFE ABE BUCH AS TO RENDER NECESSARY THIS TUBNlNG TO Goo. One who is on the right road already has no need to tum; but he who is travelling in the wrong direction must first of a.II reverse his steps, his course. As sin and error have been universal, no limit can be placed to the a.ppnpria.teness of the snmmons of the text.  381'.1 'l'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. [oH, xn. 1-U.