Hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn to their God: for the spirit of prostitutions is in the middle of them… The words in the original are very elegant. and Vulgate render,: "They will not give themselves to think of such a thing." Mercer and Castellius, "They will not do their endeavours." Tremellius, "They do not apply any action of theirs any way to turn unto the Lord." Drusius and Pagninus, "Their custom in their ways of sin will not suffer them to turn to the Lord." and Calvin, "They give not their counsels, their studies, to turn to the Lord." They will not give their mind to turn to the Lord, they will not put forth themselves into any posture that way. It is true, we can do nothing without the Lord, but yet the sin lies in our wills rather than in our power, therefore the will is charged by God. They cannot turn unto God of themselves, but yet they may do somewhat, they may bend themselves upon it, they may think of it, they may attend upon the means. 1. Israel will not so much as set his heart to think of anything that will bring him unto God. Not so much as to think, are my ways right or not right? 2. Though a man cannot turn to God, yet through the common work of God's Spirit he may do this, he may be willing to hear and consider what is said for the ways of God. 3. They will not wait on God in the use of means. 4. They will not apply the rule of the Word to their actions. Whatsoever they think will make for their own cuds, that they will follow. 5. The light and power they have they will not use. 6. They will not join in with the work of God. 7. They will adhere to their old customs, to their former ways, to what they have received from their forefathers, and been trained up in. 8. They will take and improve to the uttermost every advantage they can have against the ways of God. If we will not frame our doings to turn unto the Lord, He may break us, break that frame which we raise in our own imaginations.Observe — (1) Apostates seldom have any inclination to turn unto God. No meltings of spirit, no yieldings, but their hearts are hardened, and they depart farther and farther from God. (2) True repentance is not only to leave evil, and to do good, but to turn unto God as our God. (3) It is God's just judgment to give men over to the devil to be blinded and hardened when they forsake Him and His truth. (4) Impetuousness of spirit blinds the mind. "The spirit of whoredoms is in them"; and then follows, "they have not known the Lord." Whatsoever is said against their way cannot convince them. When the mind is possessed by passion, love, fear, sorrow, or any other strong affection, and carried out powerfully to the object that excites them, it will not listen to, it will not understand anything urged against it; the voice of reason is unheeded, charming never so wisely. Some have a spirit of sluggishness and love their ease; a spirit of covetousness, and they must have their estates; a spirit of ambition, and they must have their honour and respect; a spirit of pride and self-love, and they must not on any account grant that they are ignorant and mistaken; therefore they cannot see the truths, the ways of God. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. |
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