CRITICAL NOTES.—
Hosea 1:11. Gathered together] in one body. One head] Zerubbabel typically, Christ really (Jeremiah 3:18; Ezekiel 34:23). Go up] from Babylon, from whence God restored the two tribes; typ. = deliverance from sin and moral dignity; go up from sinful life, join the Christian Church and march to the land of promise. Great, &c.] Not as Hosea 1:4. God will increase in mercy, not scatter in displeasure. Where Israel was overthrown, victory shall be achieved. Instead of no mercy and not my people, we have mercy and my people. Great and glorious the day when the fortunes of Israel shall be reversed and the fulness of the Gentiles come in.
HOMILETICS
THE GOOD TIME COMING.—Hosea 1:10-11; ch. Hosea 2:1
Though excluded from the love of God, Israel was not always to be so. The hand which wounds will heal, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. The spiritual Israel, the Gentiles as well as Jews, shall be restored to God and become numerous as the sand (Genesis 32:12; Romans 9:25-26). Light springs out of darkness, and life out of death. Promise of blessings follows threat of punishments, and a glorious future opens out to the penitent believer.
I. Israel shall be increased in number.
1. This increase from God. God the source of all increase in families, churches, and nations. Health, favourable circumstances, do not account for increase. Modern calculations must not be applied. God who multiplied Israel in Egypt by special miracle increases the number of his people. “I will increase them with men like a flock.”
2. This increase is innumerable “as the sand of the sea.” It is a law of nature, a rule of providence, to promote growth from small beginnings. The oak from an acorn. A Syrian ready to perish became a great and populous nation, Deuteronomy 26:5. God’s people, few in number at present, shall be increased to “a multitude which no man can number.” “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time.”
3. This increase notwithstanding persecution and sorrow. God’s people often severely persecuted and oppressed; their number diminished; but God replaces things temporal by things spiritual, outward gifts by inward graces, and restores fourfold what he takes away. The Church can never be crushed by force. Omnipotence defends her, and the purpose of God will never be frustrated. “Israel shall be as the sand,” “it shall come to pass.”
II. Israel shall be restored to spiritual dignity.
1. They shall be restored to right relation to God. “The sons of the living God.” This the goal of their Divine calling, but from this relation they had fallen. The external relation only a faint emblem of the spiritual. Not merely a people, but the people, the subjects, the sons of the living God. God owns his people, they are reconciled to him, and possess the spirit of adoption, whereby they say, Abba, Father. This is their unspeakable joy now, but is only a foretaste of what they shall be (1 John 3:2).
2. This restoration is by a method least expected. “In the place where it was said, Ye are not my people,” &c. Mercy when judgment is expected, love beyond description and degree. Love without a parallel and example. Love to the sinful, restoration to the fallen. The place of rejection, the place of redemption; in the place where there was nothing good and encouraging, there shall be a change for the better—a people shall be formed, increase given, and a nation gathered together under the benediction and protection of God.
III. Israel shall be united under one government. “The children of Israel shall be gathered together and appoint themselves one head.”
1. United under one head. This head not the pope, nor Zerubbabel as chief, nor Joshua as priest. Christ, the head of the Church, shall be the head of every man. He, “the one King, shall be the King to them all” (Ezekiel 34:23). Men may gather together into societies and creeds, but no true unity, no real allegiance, except in Christ. He gathers together by his word and love the children of God which are scattered abroad (John 11:52).
2. United by Divine influence. “They shall be gathered.” God only knows where, and how, to find his people. He follows them in their wanderings, restores them when fallen, and leads them into green pastures, and beside the still waters. Men are drawn to Christ, disposed to join together, and made willing in the day of his power.
3. United by voluntary consent. We have first the act of God, without whom we can do nothing, and then follows their own act. “They appoint themselves one head.” No outward force can constrain. If we do not act willingly, there can be no friendship and loyalty. God’s service is a choice, a free service, “Choose you this day.” “Will ye be my disciples?”
4. United in true love. “The children of Judah and the children of Israel,” who lived apart and at enmity. In the gospel only we have a basis for a common brotherhood and fraternity; in Christ only have we bonds to cement and preserve it. In him Jew and Gentile, bond and free, live at peace; “no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms.” “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel” (Jeremiah 3:18). “Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim” (Isaiah 11:12-13).
5. United in great joy. Taking Hosea 1:1 in chap. 2 in connection with these, we have a declaration of joy. Those who called the children of the prophet not my people, and unfavoured, are now to call them the opposite names, the son to his brethren, the daughter to her sisters: or the people who have obtained mercy are summoned to salute one another with the new name and new dignity. Those who have obtained mercy may rejoice, and rejoice in God. This privilege is insured to them. They must cherish mutual love among themselves, encourage one another in trouble, and rejoice together in hope. God’s blessings must be commended to others. God’s family is the only happy family. They “sing unto him a new song.”
6. United in great glory. “They shall come up out of the land.” They shall be delivered from captivity, and led into the land of promise; rise up and march forth to victory, and be re-instated in splendour and power. Egypt is a type of heathen lands into which Israel is driven; Canaan a type of the land of the Lord; the guidance of Israel through the wilderness, and their deliverance from captivity, a figurative representation of re-union with God, and restoration to full enjoyment of salvation. “Great shall be the day of Jezreel.” This grand picture has not yet been realized; but under the leadership of the Messiah the destiny of the human race shall be accomplished. “This seed is now sown,” says Matt. Henry, “in the earth and buried in the clods, but great shall be its day when the harvest comes.” Look joyfully, pray continually, and labour earnestly for that day when God shall sow and give the full increase of the Redeemer’s work (John 12:24).
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 1:10. Places of sorrow, places of joy. Where the fathers are cast off for unbelief, the children shall there be restored in mercy—places of death, places of resurrection.
The living God. “The world has abounded with dead gods; there is but one living God. He is the living one. He is life, the primal fount of all existence. Christ calls him the living Father. As the living Father sent me, I live in the Father, so he that eateth with me shall live by me” [Dr Thomas]. If we expect God to be a living God to us, it becomes us not to have dead hearts in his service. If God be active for our good, let us be active for his honour [Burroughs].
Sons of the living God.
1. A unique relation.
2. A distinguished privilege.
3. A blessed prospect.
One Head, Hosea 1:11. Saints are said to appoint Christ their head, and indeed to set the crown upon his head (Song of Solomon 3:11), when they choose him and embrace him for their sovereign, when with highest estimations, most vigorous affections, and utmost endeavours of unfeigned obedience, they set him up in their hearts, and serve him in their lives [Trapp].
The Headship of Christ is:
1. The fulfilment of ancient prophecy.
2. The bond of connection with God.
3. The unity of all ranks.
4. The centre and support of all virtues. He is King of the Jews, Head of the human race, and Lord of all creation. When mankind depart from God, they lose the bond of unity and of peace. They are divided then into parties, which contend with and exterminate each other. But when these have again united themselves with the Lord, the unity of the members is restored. Therefore there is liberty, equality, and fraternity only in the Lord [Lange].
Great days of the Church. The Sabbath—the resurrection of Christ—the day of Pentecost—the day of revivals, and the gathering together of all nations.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 1
Future increase, Hosea 1:10-11. Prophecy predicts a bright and blessed future. Everything in the conditions of the human mind and of universal society indicates a coming change, a glorious transformation. The nations are looking and yearning for their redemption. The world must be subject to Christ. Every knee must bow to him, and every tongue confess that he is Lord. His name is the only perfect symbol of freedom and life. Under his love and reign every fetter of mind shall be broken; the heart shall be purified, social happiness will be diffused, order and harmony will be restored, and the whole race be again bound in one grand unity. Heaven will be reflected on earth, and earth will be wedded to heaven. God shall descend and dwell with men, and men shall become the sons, and rise into the life of God.