The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 408

warning well meant and faithfully given. Forewarned is forearmerl • this sh0uld be the ense, but the maxim is often disregarded. Samuel had faithfully 'warned Israel of the inconveniencee to which they would expoee themselves by imitating the surround- ing nations when they eought a king. He told them truly, for God had instructed him, of the, opp_reseions they mlgh_t expect, the exactions they would be subject to, and the arb1trarrness of rule to which they would have to submit; but, though they could not gainsay aught of his warning, they obstinately persisted in their determina- tion, saying, "Nay,, but _we _will have a king." To their folly they added sin, as i~ usually the case, for m reJectrng Samuel'R counsel they rejected the prophet's Master as it is written, "They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me." 3. Hem; little men know what ia really good for them I Frequently we set our heart on thin"~ most prejudicial to our best interests. Like children crying for hurtful objects whiih a wise parent withholds in tenderest affection, and which if granted would be sure i., inflict injury or even prove fatal, we clamour for things that would prove not only unsuitable but most harmful ; and, childlike, we compla.io. if our requests a.re not granted. We pray, and in our ignorance we know not what to pray for as we ought. What need we have of grace, that the right desires may be put into our hearts and right words in our lips; that, coming before God with acceptance, we may obtain those thin"'s 0 that are most conducive to the Divine glory and expedient for ourselves! III. REQUESTS GRANTED IN WRATH, God, in his providence ever wise and holy, may, as it were, stand aside from men for a. season, and allow them to have their way. After rejecting the salutary warning of his Word they may succeed in their wicke,l enterprises, and seem even to be seconded in them. 1. No ground for ca.vi1ling at GOft., providence. Without any imputation on the Divine holiness, men may be permitte,l to have their way and to get their will, yet in much wrath. " God,'' says Calvin, " so executes his judgments, that whatever evil there is it ought to be ascribed to men ; whatsoever good to himself. . . . God by his secret counsel had directed the whole business, and yet he had no participation in the sin of the people. . . . Let us learn wisely to admire the secret judgments of God, who thus makes use of wicked men, and directs for the best end what is done by men wickedly and foolishly." 2. There appears to be a·n answer to a latent o'/J:jeetion, The people might say to the prophet, "Why blame us when God permitted us to have a king, appointing Samuel to anoint Saul, and allowing Jeroboam to reign over ten tribes?" To this God, by his servant, replie~, "I gave you a king when your hearts were so set on one ; but I gave him to yon in anger and as a. punishment of sin-Saul to punish your sin in rejecting Samuel; and Jeroboam to punish the idolatries in the reign of Solomon, as also your rebellion and apostasy." 3. God's gifts are sometimes tokens of his wrath. " God,'' says Augustine," many time:1 in giving is angry, and in denying is merciful." We have positive proof:! of this in Scripture. Besides the passage before us, there is a notable instance on record in Numb. xi.; there God gave the people what they greatly longed for, but in wrath. 'fhey ha.d "wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat ? for it was well with us in Egypt." They got the flesh they so vehemently craved; their desires were gratified; why? Just, we are told, because they despised the Lord who was among them. Thus God gave them flesh to ea.t, but it was in anger. The psalmist (Ps. lxxviii.), commenting on the fact, explains it so," While the meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them." 4. The end was as bad as t/1$ beginning. A king was given them in anger, and a king was taken a.way in wrath. 'fhe proverb says," Well begun is half done;" but we may add," A bad beginning bas most frequently an ill end." "Nothing successfol," says Calvin, "could then proceed from so inauspi- cious a. beginning. For it is ouly then an auspicious token when we obey God, when his Spirit presides over our counsels, when we ask at his month, and when we begm with prayer to him. But when we despise the Word of God, and give loose reins to our own huwour, and fix on whatever pleases us, it c.~Tlnot be but that an unhappy anu disastrous issue will follow." 5. Criteria of God's gifts. We may point out a few tokens by which men may judge whether God's gifts are granted in love or in wrath. 'fhere are (1) desires which have more respect to the gift than to the giver. Of such it has been well said, "Those desires that are not out of love are not satisfied from Jove," If our regards are fixed on the creature and have no respect to the Creator, God may grant such desires, but not in love. "Whatsoever a gracious heart would have 410 TH.E BOOK OF HOSEA. [en. xm. 1-10.