CRITICAL NOTES.—
Hosea 7:15. Bound] Weakened and relaxed, an image from surgery (chastened, marg.). “Instructing the arms, according to the analogy of Psalms 18:35, is equivalent to showing where and how strength is to be acquired. The Lord has not contented himself with merely instructing, he has also strengthened their arms and given them power to fight and victory over their foes (cf. 2 Kings 14:25-26)” [Keil].
Hosea 7:16. Deceitful] Which cannot carry the arrow; too slack or ill-constructed, which the archer fears will miss its aim. Rage] Blasphemy against God. Derision] Egypt, on which they depended, will ridicule them for their boasting and failure (Isaiah 30:33).
THE UNGRATEFUL RETURN.—Hosea 7:15-16
God tried all ways with his people, but of no use. He chastised them in judgment and remembered mercy. He gave them into the hands of enemies; they cried in distress, and he delivered them. Whatever God did, they were still the same. Four words sum up the varied methods of God to restore them; the one result was shameful abuse ending in fresh rebellion.
I. God’s kindness to man. “I have bound and strengthened their arms.” In whatever sense we take the words, the fact of ingratitude remains.
1. God chastised them. Time after time were they afflicted, but God withdraws his displeasure. Men see the greatness of Divine compassion, but never feel all the power of Divine anger. “He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not; yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.”
2. God taught them. Taught them to walk by their arms, as parents teach their children (ch. Hosea 11:3; Deuteronomy 1:31); taught them to war (Psalms 18:34); gave them victory over enemies (2 Kings 14:25-26); “girded them with strength for battle.” To him they owed all their military skill, strength, and success. All warlike prowess is the gift of God. The Lord is mighty in battle, and “the Holy Spirit is the great Drill-Master of heavenly soldiers.” God taught and instructed Israel by his prophets and providence, by his word and worship, and by a peculiar mode of discipline trained them up for his service and honour.
3. God strengthened them. Weak within and wounded without, like a kind physician he bound up their wounds and healed their sores. He strengthened their arms and relieved them in sickness. God often restores individuals and reinstates nations in prosperity and health, but what thanks has he? “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help.”
II. Man’s ingratitude to God. Men like Hezekiah render not again according to the benefit done unto them (2 Chronicles 32:25). God intends to do them good, but they hate and forsake him.
1. In wicked thoughts. “Yet do they imagine mischief against me.” Right thoughts of God are essential to right conduct. If we think evil in our hearts, evil will be manifest in our lives. “The thought of foolishness is sin.” Men think lightly of the responsibility of thought, and declare that thoughts can hurt no one. As the thought is the fountain of the act, God counts it as the act, and holds us responsible for it. Bunyan, unlike many professors, was deeply troubled in remembrance of one sinful thought. Yet how men devise wickedness in their hearts! One meditates on objects of lust and avarice; another on schemes of ambition. Some think in envy, and others in malice and revenge “O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee?”
2. In evil conduct. “They return, but not to the Most High.” The health restored and the life preserved from death should be given to God. God’s kindness should beget loving thoughts and constant gratitude to him. But the conversion of many is feigned and hypocritical; a turning point in life, but not return to God in acknowledgment of his majesty, and dependence upon his word. Man changes from one thing to another: turns “from the sins of youth to the sins of age, from the sins of prosperity to the sins of adversity; but he himself remains unchanged,” says a writer. True turning is upwards, in recognition of God’s presence and holiness. The sinner looks forward and round, but forgets God in thought and conduct. The prodigal must come home. The penitent must return not half way, but entirely up to God. To forsake some sins and indulge in others, to denounce earthly things without devoting ourselves entirely to God, is not genuine conversion nor guarantee of amendment. “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me.”
3. In blasphemous language. “For the rage of their tongue.” The princes were enraged themselves, and gave vent to their anger against God and his providence to others. The tongue, that unruly member, uttered lies and blasphemy. The nearer destruction approached the more madly princes and politicians contradicted the prediction. “Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit.” Thus did Israel and thus do men treat the kindness of God. In evil thought, rebellious conduct, and abusive language do they manifest ingratitude. Mark the fearful gradations of their sin. (a) Surrounded by mercies, they design mischief. (b) Invited to return, they turn further away from God. (c) Then insults were added to ingratitude and rebellion. (d) Finally their language and conduct drew down God’s anger upon them, and were the instruments of their own destruction. To render good for evil is God-like, but to render evil for good is devilish. What should we do with an undutiful, rebellious child nourished up in tender care? Could any virtue atone for this unnatural conduct? Yet God complains. “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” Rewarding evil for good is condemned by the heathen, hateful to God, and will bring destruction to the sinner himself and his house. “Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 7:15. Mischief. Sin is essentially mischief; mischievous in its designs and consequences—to God and man. In one sense man can do no hurt to God, but so bold is he in his sins that he tries, by robbing God of his glory and abusing his gifts. “Man would dethrone God if he could” [Pusey].
Subject. Divine dispensations abused. I. God’s dispensations with men are characterized by variety. II. That whatever the character of the Divine dispensations they are often perverted. Observe—First, The force of the human will. Secondly, The depravity of the human heart [The Homilist].
Hosea 7:16. A deceitful bow.
1. Misdirected in its aim. Looked more to selfish and sinful things than things of God.
2. Treacherous in its acting. When bent, would suddenly start aside and recover its former position. Not to be depended upon. The bow of Jonathan “turned not back” (2 Samuel 1:22).
3. Unfit for use. Israel boasted of the bow, and sang the song of the bow, and a deceitful bow is made a type of their own unstedfastness and degenerate condition. God can turn man’s glory into shame, and cast them away as unfit for his purpose in the earth. “They were turned aside like a deceitful bow” (Psalms 78:57).
Men’s shortcoming, in the matter of repentance and conversion to God, showeth from their want of straightness in not intending what they pretend to, which is also a great sin: therefore it is added they are like a deceitful bow, that is, as a bow which hath a throw in it does never direct the arrow to the mark, however it seem to aim at it; so, however they pretend true repentance, yet they do not intend it, but only to deceive and flatter God till they might get out of trouble [Hutcheson].
Return. True repentance consists—
1. In decided turning away from evil. Not half turning, nor halting short of God. 2 In decided turning to God. Positive devotion to God, so that he only is served and worshipped. It is not outward reformation, but inward renewal.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 7
Hosea 7:15-16. Ingratitude. At the battle of the Alma, in September, 1854, a wounded Russian was piteously calling for water. Captain Eddington, whose heart was kind and charitable, ran up to him, and stooping, gave him the much-desired beverage. The wounded man revived. The Captain ran forward to join his regiment, when the wretch who had just been restored by his kindness fired and shot him who had been his friend in time of need. So many seek to injure God by returning him evil for good [Biblical Treasury].