Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. "In a sense, all men are idolaters." Since man by nature is, in spirit although not in fact, as much an idolater as the pagans of any heathen land, it may be justly said of all who have been converted by the grace of God, that He has "taken them from among the heathen." Whatever comes between the soul and God, whatever supplants His love in the heart is an "idol." It may be the love of what is unlawful to be loved, or it may be the unlawful love of what in itself is allowed. I. THE SINFUL ALLIANCE. "Joined to idols." There are several particulars characterising this union. 1. It is illegal. All the inhibitions of God are but the voice of perfect love and wisdom enforcing the perfect laws of parental government. In a properly regulated family there are laws, and these have a threefold purpose — (1) The good of each individual member. (2) The preservation of one member from the injuries of another. (3) The good, or honour, of the parental head.The Divine laws are illustrated by the human. To be "joined to idols " is to be allied with claims which are foreign to the nature and opposed to the claims of God, and such an alliance is illegal. 2. It is unnatural. Redeemed and justified man is among the sublime confederacy of loyal subjects of the Creator. But the sinner has allied himself with the dark forces of hell — he is an alienated being. 3. It is degrading. For a member of a large and noble family to become united with guilt and ignominy would be to entail upon himself utter disgrace, to cast a shade over the honour of his family name, and to forfeit all claims to the love of kindred or respect of friends. And every sinner, in the eye of purity, is a walking plague, a moral Cain. 4. It is irrational. Sin is a disease producing madness. II. THE RUINOUS ALLIANCE. 1. The soul may be said to be "let alone" when it seeks satisfaction apart from God. 2. When the blood of the atonement is set at nought, 3. When the truth of God loses its wonted power to "convince of sin, righteousness," etc. The Bible speaks, ministers speak, providence speaks, as usual, but conscience hears not. 4. The sentence, "let him alone," will have a future application to the sinner's state. "Let him alone" is the burning inscription on the walls of hell's prison-house. (G. Hunt Jackson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. |
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