The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 393

TT. Goo I'UTII RJIIIIKLP' lN IIAN 18 I'OWER1 T8AT IIAN IL\Y OBTAIN DJ,E881NG J'BOM Rl'M. 1. He dra1118 Mar t o - · God drew ne&r to Jacob at Penlel, lie seemed to he B "man," but JRCOb rccogni1.ed in bi& my1t.erious Visltant an angel-that Angol of tho covcn&nt in whom God's N&me was. He e.ooordingly laid hold of him, wrostlod wiLh and entreated him, and would not let him go till be had bleB&ed him, & there nro awful momenta in our expcrienoe when, "left alone," the infinite Presence draws near to 1111, oveT11hadow11 11a, touches ua, invites u1 to wrestle with it for the supremo good of exi11tence. 2. He give.s man powttr. If Jacob wrestled prevailingly with God, it wll8 becau11e God gave him power to do BO. It i1 ln God's own strength that we wreetlo "l\'ith God. God puts him11elf in our power, not crushing us by hie majesty, but meotiug us as on a human footing, e.nd permitting us to prevail over him. 3, He invite, man'B req1.te8tll. Jacob "wept, e.nd made supplication." Prayer is a real wrestling. God wills man thus t.o wrestle with him. He gives us the Rromise of bleBBing if we ask, 800k, and knock (Matt. vii. 7, 8). Ja.cob's prayer wu (1~ ea.meat, (2)persevering, (3) mighty. Jesus prayed "with strong crying and tean, and "was heard iil that he feared" (Beb. v. 7). III. b, TYPICAL CA8E8 LiltE J AOOB1S, Goo PLEDGES BIB GRACE TO THIii GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER. Jacob wa.s: 1. lsrae'fB patriarch head. "He found him in Bethel; there be spa.ke with us" (ver. 4). The promises given at Bethel had reference to: the de11CCnda.nts (Gen. xu:v. 9-12). The blessing was to be theirs alBo, if they chose to claim it a.s Jacob bad done. 2. An aample.. He who spake with Jacob was "the Lord God of bostll: the Lord is his Name" (ver. 6). The unchangeability of God is our J?11Brantee that, if we act a.s Jacob did, we shall meet with like reward.. 3. '1.'he conse- 'luent duty. " Therefore tum thou to thy God : keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually." There is here indicated the need: (1) Of .earnest desire. " Turn thou to God." Israel must turn from other aiillll, and set their heart upon the blesaing as Jacob set hi.I. (2) Of obedience. "Keep; mercy and judgm.ent." For it is only in the way of obedience that God will meet us. (3) Of perseverance in 11eeking. "Wait thou," et.c. It was thus that Jacob waited; wrestling even till the daybreak.--J. 0. Vcrs. 7-11.-Balancu of d,eceil,. Ill the manner of his acquisition of .wealth, Ephraim conjoined deceit and oppression. He was dishonest in trade. He oppreSBed the poor. He was a bette.r imitator of Ja.cob in his act of laying hold of his brother's heel than in his earnestness in wrestling with the angeL He inherited the evil, not the l?ood, traits in the character of his progenit.or. He was a " Jacob," not an "IsraeL" Yet be plumed himself on his success. L EPmtAIK's BAY m THE IUT'l'EB. (Ver. 8.) 1. He wa, puffed up with the th<>Ught of being rich. "Ephraim aaid. I a.m rich, I have found me out substance." This was the main thing-he wa.s rich. It did not matter how the riches had been got, when they were there. The existence of the riches covered a multitude of sins. This is too much the way in which weal1h is looked at in the world. The possessor of it can count on being honoured., oourted. applauded for BDCC88S, with few questioDB asked as to the means by which his wealth has been acquired. 'l'be love of the honour and position which wealth gives lead men to seek after it by fair means and foul. " Balances of deceit" are not unknown among ourselves, "Tricks innumerable," says Mr. Spencer, " lies acted or uttered, elaborately devised frauds, are prevalent-many of them estab- lished as 'cu.stOIIIJ! of the trade;' nay, not only established, but defended.n Yet this is thought of little moment, if only men can say in the end, "I am rich." 2. He took the gl(lf'y of I.is riclia to him.elf. "I have found me out substance." It was himself that did it. 'l'o him the credit and glory of it belonged. He Haid in his heart, " My power and the might of mine band bath gott.en me this wealth," forgetting that it is God alone that had given him power to get wealth (Deut. viii. 17, 18). 3. He justified himr aelf in JviB wa,y,. " Ill all my labolll'II they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin." As Spencer says above of rogueries in trade," not only established, but defended." 'fhe dishonest trader i1 yet to be found who is not disposed to jU11tify himself. He geu. tu look on his dishonesties as trifle&-ba~atelles. He defies proof of them. He ju.stifii,s himself by the practice of others. '!hat cannot be wrong which ever,body cioes. If, like Ephraim, he is uaiduous in the practice of the outward duties of Olli Zrt. 1-14,) 'I'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. 395