CRITICAL NOTES.—
Hosea 8:9. Assy-] to gain friendship and alliance. Wild ass] A comparison which shows their folly, not as a paramour burning in lust, but heady, obstinate, and undisciplined; outstripping the swiftest horse in pursuit of lust, hunger, and thirst. “Whilst even a wild ass, that stupid animal, keeps by itself, to maintain its independence, Ephraim tries to form unnatural alliances with the nations of the world, that is to say, alliances that are quite incompatible with its vocation” [Keil].
Hosea 8:10. Hired] by presents. Gather] them among the nations. Now] They shall not go as suppliants, but captives; the nations will oppress and not help them (Ezekiel 16:37). Sorrow] (not, as margin, begin). A little] The greater judgment, the deportation, suspended. Burden] Tribute imposed on Israel (2 Kings 15:19-20).
HOMILETICS
THE FOLLY OF WORLDLY ALLIANCE.—Hosea 8:9-10
A fourth sin is laid to the charge of Israel in seeking aid from Assyrians. This sin is reproved by two similitudes—a wild ass loving its freedom, and a harlot suing for paramours. It is folly to seek help in civil defection and religious apostasy.
I. The alliance is unnatural.
1. It is against the habits of nature. The wild ass, taken in its love for solitude, or its headstrong perversity in pursuing its lust, reproves this conduct. Israel was a holy people, separated from others for a special purpose, and intended to be the people of God. “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” God’s people should never mix up with worldly men. Their name and their nature should separate them from sin. They stand upon a moral elevation; to trust to worldly alliance and hire foreign aid is to sacrifice their principles and degrade their nature; to acknowledge the superiority of the world, and sink themselves below their true position. The sympathies and aspirations of the new man are with God and not the world. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2. It reserves the customs of men. “Ephraim hath hired lovers.” The ordinary way is for lovers to hire her (Ezekiel 16:33-34). When Churches are deserted, and professors are forsaken by God, they often go further wrong than others, more bent on wickedness than ordinary transgressors. What folly to purchase the aid of an enemy! what value is that affection which can only be enlisted by gold and hire? The world should be taught to admire the Church as a wise and understanding people; but when they despise their own dignity, they pay dearly for the alliance of “the nations.” “The contrary is in thee from other women, in thy whoredoms, whereas more followeth thee to commit whoredoms; and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.”
II. The alliance is unfaithful. As a man should cleave to his wife, so Israel should cling to God. But how loathing and immodest to forsake God, to whom we are bound by marriage covenant, and tempt and hire other lovers! Such was the baseness of Judah, and such the unfaithfulness of many now. When God likens the idolatry of his ancient people to adultery and harlotry, the Christian Church of the present age should take the warning and remain faithful to God.
III. The alliance is destructive. “Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them.” The sin of Israel brought its own punishment. They sought to secure themselves by hired kings, sent presents to them and made leagues with them against God’s will: but their policy deceived them. God would gather those very nations, not to help, but to destroy Israel. When nations rely on hired levies, and Churches have recourse to ungodly powers, to save from anticipated judgments, God in just retribution makes these very powers the instruments of his purpose. Providing for their own glory and safety makes them easier prey to their enemies. There is no security but in God himself. “I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Hosea 8:9. A wild ass typical of the sinner.
1. In its disregard for its owner. “Neither regardeth be the crying of the driver” (Job 39:8).
2. In its obstinate course. It is most unruly and stubborn, intense in its thirst and swift in its pursuit. Self-will, frowardness, and intractableness the complaints against Israel. Men now throw off God’s yoke, seek to be free and uncontrolled, to pursue their folly without restraint. “The heart of man is fully set in them to do evil.”
3. In its constant danger. “The wild ass is the lion’s prey in the wilderness” (Sir. 13:19). Men who rush from God are exposed to danger from themselves and others in time and in eternity. Apart from grace, man after his hard and impenitent heart treasures up wrath against the day of wrath” (Romans 2:5).
Hosea 8:10. Sin and sorrow. “Now will I gather them,” &c.
1. The beginning of sin is the beginning of sorrow. Men do not believe this. It may be contrary to their experience and observation, but the fact is declared in God’s word, and written in our moral nature and constitution. Now “they shall sorrow a little.”
2. The end of sin will be the greatest sorrow. Israel sorrowed “a little” under the bondage and heavy taxes of Assyria, but their future punishment was the greater calamity. Now sorrow is a little, a drop before the storm, hereafter it will be a tempest. God suspends the greatest judgments to prove his compassion for men, give time for repentance, and opportunity to return to him. Here only we have “the beginning of sorrows;” what then will be the end “of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 8
Hosea 8:9. Love—
Our passions are seducers; but of all,
The strongest love. He first approaches us
In childish play, wantoning in our walks;
If heedlessly we wander after him,
As he will pick out all the dancing way,
We’re lost, and hardly to return again. [Southey.]
Hosea 8:10-11. Sin increased. Sin is like a stone which is cast into water, and multiplies itself by infinite circles [Basil]. All sin and wickedness in man’s spirit hath the central force and energy of hell in it, and is perpetually pressing down towards it as towards its own place. The devilish nature is always within the central attractions of hell, and its own weight instigates and accelerates its motion thither [John Smith].