CRITICAL NOTES.—
Hosea 10:9.] A return to earlier days to prove deeper guilt. Stood] As at the beginning, so now they stand, persisting in their sin. Others, though smitten in Gibeah, yet they avenged the sacred character of God’s law; but now none of the ten tribes took the side of God. The battle shall overtake and utterly destroy them.
Hosea 10:10. Desire] After the manner of men, God longs to punish in severity, to impress the mind. No longer joy over them (Deuteronomy 28:63), but justice without mercy. Bind] Lit. at their binding, i.e. when God would bind them like oxen ploughing side by side. Two] transgressions. Forsaking God, and revolting against the house of David. “The breach of both tables of God’s law, or as Jeremiah 2:13” [Pusey].
IMITATING THE SINS AND SUFFERING THE PUNISHMENT OF OTHERS.—Hosea 10:9-10
In the days of Gibeah, grievous sins were committed and punished. But Israel had not heeded the warning. They had now no zeal for God, nor fear of judgment. They had sinned and continued to sin in imitation of former days. The terrible battle in Gibeah did not overtake some; now not a mere battle, but something far worse shall come upon them. Though God “doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men,” yet he longs, has determined to punish, and will gather heathen nations against them in overwhelming numbers. Those who partake in other men’s sins will suffer other men’s punishment.
I. We commit other men’s sins by patronizing their works. The sins of Gibeah, the calves of Jeroboam, were all upheld and patronized by high and low in Israel. Kings and priests not only consented, but contrived to make the people sin. The people approved and carried out the bidding of their superiors. All were guilty. We may be afraid to resist and reprove, but if we silently consent and support evil deeds, we are guilty of partaking in them. Saul did not stone Stephen, but consented, approved of his death, and accused himself of the deed (Acts 22:20). “Neither be partaker of other men’s sins.”
II. We commit other men’s sins by following their example. If you sin because another sins, you are guilty of your own act, and will share in the punishment of their sins. Bad examples are not landmarks to guide, but warnings to caution. Nothing forces you to walk in their steps, for then you would not be responsible and free. Examples draw men, and by imitating them they fall into habitual sin. The eye and the ear are inured. Many have fallen into habits of swearing, drinking, and scoffing by the practice of others. Young men indulge in filthy conversation, because incited by their evil companions. Infidelity is a repetition of the first lie, and imbibed by others from example. By imitating evil examples we establish and perpetuate national sins, influence national opinions and customs, and decide national destiny. “O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah.”
III. We suffer the punishment by committing the sins of others. “The people shall be gathered against them.” Israel could not escape. By their idolatry they had bound themselves in slavery. The Assyrians, with their allies, would gather against them at God’s call. God had determined to punish, and appeared to take pleasure in so doing. In every age, in every Church, those who copy the example and emulate the crimes of antiquity will be bound by their own fetters and delivered into the hands of their enemies. If nations revive in this the sins of a former age, and commit them in succeeding ages, they will fill up the measure of their iniquity. The sins of fathers and predecessors will be visited upon their children.
1. This punishment is determined by God. “It is my desire that I should chastise them.”
2. This punishment will not be avoided by their own defence. They would unite their strength, fix themselves for defence like oxen yoked together in the plough. “As the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 10:9. From the days, &c. I. Sin aggravated.
1. By continuance from age to age.
2. By neglect of Divine warning. (a) In preserving some, “did not overtake,” (b) in punishing others. Benjamin did not escape. Reduced to six hundred men. II. Sin ripened for punishment.
1. When imitated and propagated by posterity.
2. When provoking God to anger.
Conjunction of strength and forces to uphold sinful courses will not avail any nation against God’s wrath.
Hosea 10:10. God can bring in his armies at his pleasure, for all creatures are at his beck and check. He never need want a weapon to chastise his rebels. All creatures in heaven and earth will present their service. How ready are the Assyrians here to be the rod in his hand [Trapp].
O the venomous nature of sin that maketh the merciful God to desire and to delight in men’s miseries; to take comfort in their punishments (Ezekiel 5:13; Ezekiel 5:15), to laugh at their destruction. And although he bear long with men’s evil manners (Acts 13:18), yet he beareth them as a burden whereof he desireth to be eased (Isaiah 1:24), as a servitude whereof he desireth to be freed [Trapp].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 10
Hosea 10:9-10. Example. For good or evil we act and influence men on earth. This influence will survive and affect others when we are gone. “Oh that my influence could be gathered up and buried with me,” cried a dying man. Men imitate and follow our example, and a bad example, a life of sin, are most pernicious to posterity. “I have thought some of nature’s journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably” [Shakespeare].