THE WAYS OF GOD JUSTIFIED
‘Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and be shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.’
The prophet viewed with dismay the heavy visitation of his countrymen, and the ruin of Ephraim. As a true patriot his heart was deeply pained by its afflictions, but in and through all he recognises the righteous dealings of Providence, and so sums up his collection of prophecies with this passage, in which he justifies the ways of God to man.
I. A recognition of the right ways of God.—(1) God’s ways are right in the laws He imposes. (2) God’s ways are right in the blessings He gives. (3) God’s ways are right in the troubles and afflictions He sends. This is true of nation and individual.
II. The qualities of soul necessary to this recognition.—Wisdom and prudence. The wise and prudent man studies, and endeavours to follow Providence.
III. The happiness of those who submit to the right ways of God.—The righteous endeavour to walk in them, and find that this is the way of peace. To obey His laws, to submit to His rule, is the only way to true happiness.
IV. The misery of those who rebel against the right ways of God.—‘The way of transgressors is hard.’ Disobedience, rebellion, doubt and unbelief, can only lead to discomfiture. ‘The transgressor shall fall therein.’
Illustrations
(1) ‘In Hosea 14:8 Hosea has still further portrayed the renunciation of idols which should be a part of Israel’s repentance. In the last verse we have a general summing; up of the teachings of the chapter. The wise man will pay heed to the lessons which have been taught and will walk in them. The saddest thing of all is that this wonderful dream of penitence, of blessing, and restoration, never became anything but a dream. The prodigal returned to his father and found the good he had dreamed of. Israel never returned, but went on and on in sin until the nation perished.’
(2) ‘This last verse is the epilogue to the entire Book. These things. The warnings and threatenings of God regarding sin, which are recorded in this Book, and the promises regarding righteousness; compare the prologue to Revelation (Revelation 1:3), and the introduction to the Book of Psalms. The ways of the Lord. The course which he takes in governing mankind. Right. Straight, righteous. The pious walk in them, observing God’s directions, and are led to life; but the wicked, opposing themselves to these ways, stumble and fall.’
(3) ‘It is the object of the prophet Hosea and of all prophecy, in the a spirit of Revelation 1:9, to alarm and to warn the apostate, to confirm and to comfort the converted, and to glorify the Lord. Only the ways of the Lord are right. Then inevitable destruction must befall him who departs from them. True wisdom is to regard them, and all the prophetic Scriptures are like an uplifted finger, which warns against any departure from them, and at the same time like an outstretched finger which points to the way upon which the righteous must walk.’