The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 421

Ver. H.-Redemption from death. Different intorpretAtione are posaibie of this majestic language. According to one view, these words express the resolution of the righteous King and Ju<lge to let the powe.rs of death and destruction loose upon stposte.te Israel. According to nnother view, they express a determination, ati some future time and upon Israel's repentance, on God's po.rt to destroy the powers of destruction and to secure for his people an everlasting salvation. Regard the great truthA common to both interpretations. I. DEATH A1''"D THE OBAVE ARE BUT CREATURES AND MINISTERS OJ.I' THE ETERNAL, There is apparent among men a tendency to attribute to the forces of destruction an independent power, to regard death as a natural and necessary law of being. But the fact is otherwise; these are only agents used for a temporary and governmental purpose by the Lord of the universe. II. DEATH AND THE GRAVB ARE TERRIBLE ONLY TO THE ENEMIES 01!' GoD.: To such as resist and defy Divine authority it must needs be a depressing and terrible tbou~ht, that their power will speedily come to an end, and they levelled in the dust. But God's people need ban no fear of their Father's messengers. ]II. DEATH A1''"D THE GRAVE HAVE BEEN ALREADY POTEN'ITALLY VANQUISHED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Apostle Paul makes use of this language in expound- ing the Christian doctrine of the Resurrection, and sanctions the application of the language of Hosea to the triumph of the Divine Redeemer, when.he arose from the dead and abolished death, and became the Firstfruits of them that sleep. The words are in this connection precious and consolatory to the Christian mind. IV. DEATH AND THE GRAVE, WHEN THEY HAVE' FULF'ILLED ·THEm DIVINELY APPOINTED PURPOSE, SHALL FOR EVER OEASE TO BE. "-The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." The destroyer's turn shall come--; the grave shall itself be buried; death shall itself be slain. From all fear of mortality the glorified saints shall be eternally delivered. And God shall be for ever glorified in the reign of imperishable life.-T. Ver. 16.-Rebellwn a,gaiftd God. Samaria here is no doubt put for the Ieraelitish kingdom, of which that city was the c.apital. The seat of government concentrates within itself the various elements of the national life. If there be profligacy, ambitionj cruelty, treachery, self-seeking, in a nation, these qualities will ·be pre-eminently apparent in the capital. Israel, in the person of her .monarch and her capital1 "rebelled a!rainllt her God." · •• • I. THE s~OMB OF REBELLION. These are: 1. The defiance of rightful authority; When God's Name is profaned, and God's laws a.re violated,and God's threa.tenings are despised, this is a sign that those who are bound to be loyal subjects are so far from fulfilling their obligations that they are in rebellion. 2. The substitution of another authority for that of the Supreme. Whether this be an idol, or a hierarchy of pagan deities, or some selfish, c.arnal, worldly principle, is of little consequence; the allegiance has been transferred. II. THE WICKEDNESS OF REBELLION. Samaria's special sin was in rebelling against 7.er God. It is the consideration that God has done everything for us; that he hae regarded us as his own, and treated us with bounty, forbearance; and loving-kindneee, tbat, in a word, he has every claim upon us ;-it is this that brings home the charge of rebellion, and exhibits it in all its heinonsness. Ill. THE END OF REBELLION. ·This mnst be either (1) submisaion with trne repent• ance, or (2) WWJUest and destruction. The Lord shall have the defiant rebels in deriaion, and break them with a rod of iron.-T, ott. xnr. 1--16.J '11IE BOOK OF HOBEA. 423