Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land… I. THE SUIT COMMENCED. 1. The knowledge that any truth is the Word of the Lord is a special means to prepare the heart to receive it with reverence and all due respect, even though it be hard and grievous to flesh and blood. 2. The nearness of a people to God does not exempt them from God's contending with them for sin. 3. The nearer the relationship the more grievous the controversy. II. THE PLEADING OF GOD. A suit first is entered against a man; when the court day comes, there is calling for a declaration. 1. God contends not with a people without a cause. 2. God contends not against a people for little things. These are not little things "No truth, no mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." 3. It is in vain for any man to talk of his religion, if he make no conscience of the second table as well as the first. III. JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED (ver. 3, etc.). "Therefore shall the land mourn." 1. All the glory and pomp of the men of the world is but as a flower. 2. Times of affliction take down the jollity and bravery of men's spirits, and make them fade, wither, and pine away. 3. The good or evil of the creature depends on man. 4. God, when in a way of wrath, can cause His wrath to reach to those things that seem to be most remote. 5. No creature can help man in the time of God's wrath, for every creature suffers as well as man. IV. EXHORTATION TO JUDAH TO BEWARE THAT SHE COME NOT INTO THE SAME CONDITION (ver. 15). The prophet Hosea was sent especially to Israel, to the Ten Tribes, but here we see he turns his speech to Judah. 1. Ministers should especially look to those whom they are bound unto by office, but yet so as to labour to benefit others when occasion offers. 2. When we see our labour lost on those we most desire to benefit, we should try what we can do with others. There were many arguments why Judah should not do as Israel did. V. EXECUTION, GOD IN HIS WRATH GIVING UP EPHRAIM TO HIMSELF (ver. 17). 1. Ephraim engaging himself in false worship is now so inwrapped in that sin and guilt that he cannot tell how to extricate himself. 2. The Lord has given him up to his idols. (1) It is a heavy judgment upon a people when the saints withdraw from them. (2) The Lord here virtually says to Hosea, "You can do no good to them, it is in vain for you to meddle with Ephraim." God has a time to give men over to themselves, to say that His Spirit shall no longer strive with them. It is the most woeful judgment of God upon any people, or person, when He saith in His wrath, "Let him alone." It is a testimony of very great disregard in God for His creatures. Those thus let alone are going apace to misery. God intends by this to make way for some fearful wrath that is to come upon them. It is a dreadful sign of reprobation. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. |
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