CRITICAL NOTES.]
Hosea 12:11. Vanity] The question strengthens the affirmation. All was to no purpose. Warnings unheeded, altars as numerous as heaps of stones gathered out of the field, and scenes of solemn history were corrupted and ruined.
Hosea 12:12. Jacob] was a fugitive and a servant, in a low condition (Genesis 30:31; 1 Samuel 17:20); did not marry an idolatress: his honest poverty reproves your ungodly gains, and his faith in God your idolatry and unbelief.
Hosea 12:13. Israel] as represented in Jacob, the individual, and in the nation in Egypt, has been preserved (Numbers 12:6; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 18:15; Deuteronomy 18:18), kept by God, as Israel kept his flock (Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 63:11).
Hosea 12:14. Anger] Lit. with bitterness, instead of gratitude and praise, hence punishment. Blood] Blood-guiltiness a grave crime (Leviticus 20:9). Leave] The opposite of taking away or forgiving. Return] Dishonour to God repayed to Eph. His] For God does not give up his rights, though men set aside his dominion.
HOMILETICS
SINS REPROVED BY THE VIRTUES OF PROGENITORS, AND PUNISHED BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.—Hosea 12:11-14
Israel did not permit themselves to be warned and taught, gave themselves up to idolatry and superstition. Conduct which contrasted greatly with Jacob their ancestor. He had become rich by God’s blessing on honest toil, but they were given to wicked customs, which provoked God to anger, destroyed the nation, and banished the people out of the land.
I. Sins reproved by ancestral virtues. Jacob is again referred to that they might learn his humiliation and servitude.
1. Jacob’s conduct reproves them. His faith reproved their unbelief, and his devotion to God their idolatry. He fled from an angry brother, and served a covetous uncle for a wife, rather than marry an idolatress (Genesis 28:5). He laboured with diligence, endured injustice, and trusted in God. But they were dishonest in their trade, and insolent in their behaviour. Honest poverty is better than dishonestly-gotten wealth. “I have searched carefully through all the traditions of our family,” said Livingstone’s ancestor to his children round his death-bed, “and I never could discover that there was a dishonest man among our forefathers. If, therefore, any of you should take to dishonest ways, it will not be because it was in our blood. I leave this precept with you—Be honest.”
2. Jacob’s blessing reproves them. He set out with his staff alone, and became two bands (Genesis 32:10). The Syrian ready to perish became a mighty nation (Deuteronomy 26:19). God preserved the fugitive and exalted him to honour. But Israel, forsaking God and enriching himself, would be dishonoured and driven into exile. God alone is the source of wealth, and honest toil the spring of national prosperity. “Not what I have, but what I do, is my kingdom,” says Carlyle. “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 28:22-23; Proverbs 10:22).
II. Sins punished by God’s providence. Israel’s ingratitude and corrupt practices brought severe judgment upon them.
1. The desert of their sins. (a) It was found in places of sacred note. In Gilead and Gilgal, sacred in history and beautiful by nature, “only man was vile.” Spots of signal blessing may become scenes of pollution and guilt. Home, the house of God and the closet, may be consecrated to idols. (b) It was prevalent as the stones in the field. In east and west, in palace and eottage, it abounded. Like a malignant disease, it spread around. (c) It was morally corrupting. Their altars were like heaps of dung-hills; their worship was vanity, and their sacrifices worthless. Endless gifts and innumerable altars only corrupted the morals, and cursed the people. Mere forms will not satisfy the conscience. Moral decay will bring physical decay, and worthlessness will be punished by vanity. (d) It provoked God to anger (Hosea 12:14). The provocations were most bitter and grievous. All sin is offensive to God, but sins against light and truth, sins in religious privileges and in Divine warnings, are exceeding sinful. (e) It was constantly committed. Committed against the goodness of God, in delivering them from bondage, guiding them like a shepherd, and teaching them with a prophet. God keeps and blesses men, but they despise his love, and bring condemnation upon themselves.
2. The punishment of their sins. “Therefore shall he leave his blood upon him.” (a) The penalty shall not be taken away. His blood shall rest upon his own head; for he is guilty and deserves death (Leviticus 20:9; Joshua 2:9; 2 Samuel 1:10). Blood had been shed profusely, and the guilt of his sin remained upon his soul, and punishment cannot be longer delayed. (b) The dishonour done to God shall be given to him. Idolatry is an insult to our Maker, robbing him of his glory, and giving it to the likeness of a man or a beast. Those who reproach God will be dishonoured themselves. For centuries shame and reproach have been the lot of God’s unbelieving people. What a warning to us! What an aggravation of misery to be inflicted by God who desired to bless! If “his Lord” turns against the sinner, who can deliver him? Shame and contempt on earth, “shame and everlasting contempt” hereafter! “Them that honour me, I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 12:10-14. Memorials of God’s goodness to a people. I. He raised them from meanness to honour. Jacob a poor fugitive, Israel a mighty nation. II. He raised them from bondage to liberty. “Brought Israel out of Egypt,” and gave them freedom to worship God. He thus acquires special gratitude and service. III. He taught them by his prophets. By Moses (Hosea 12:13) and by the ministry of others (Hosea 12:10). IV. He guided them by his providence. As Jacob kept sheep, so Israel was kept and preserved by God. Special care and kindness were displayed towards them as a flock (Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 63:11).
Hosea 12:11. Certain places and certain altars do not palliate guilt, but testify against it, and prove all forms to be vain and deceitful. Considering the meanness of our origin, we should magnify God’s grace in present prosperity. The Atheist expects riches from diligence alone; the slothful without it; but the true Christian from the blessing of God with it. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Hosea 12:12-13. Scripture narratives are useful to remind of sin, warn us of danger, and urge us to God. They were written for our learning (Romans 15:4).
Hosea 12:13. “By a prophet of the Lord.” God chooses the humblest instruments to do the mightiest works. “A prophet he is purposely called, and his name concealed:
1. To show that the work was done, not by might nor by power, but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
2. To show what God will do for his people by the prayers, and for the sake of his prophets, when they are most shiftless and hopeless.
3. To let this unworthy people see how much God had done for them once by a prophet, how little soever now they set by such.”
Heirs of grace may suffer humiliation and distress. In Christ the fullest measure was seen. His people must have their portion.
Hosea 12:14. “Let us remember if we will not have God for our God in service, we must have him in spite of ourselves as our Lord to judge and punish us. Let us rather prove his love than his avenging justice” [Fausset].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 12
Hosea 12:11-14. Vanity. In his religion. His holiness is vain conceit; his natural light, Egyptian darkness; his religious forms, “a vain show in the flesh.” In outward circumstances. His rank, a bauble; his beauty, a fading flower; his wealth but glittering dust. “All is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Jacob’s life. No kind of studious entertainment doth so generally delight as history, or the tradition of remarkable examples: even those who have an abhorrency or indisposition toward other studies are yet often much taken with historical narrations. And such are those which present to us the lives and examples of holy men, abounding with wonders of providence and grace: no attempts so gallant, no exploits so illustrious as those which have been achieved by the faith and patience, by the prudence and courage of the ancient saints; they do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes. No triumphs are comparable to those of piety; no trophies are so magnificent and durable as those which victorious faith erecteth; that history therefore which reports the res gestœ, the acts and sufferings of most pious men, must in reason be esteemed, not only the most useful, but also the most pleasant [Barrow].