For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. Sermons
I. THE PRIVATION OF KING AND PRINCE WAS PUNISHMENT FOR NATIONAL INFIDELITY. Jehovah was himself the King of the Israelites; their kingdom was a theocracy. He had sent Moses the lawgiver; he had raised up judges; he had heard their prayer and given them a king. In revolting from the house of David, the ten tribes had dishonored God. Whether we are to look for the fulfillment of this threat in the collapse and captivity of the northern kingdom, or in the present dispersion of Israel, is immaterial. The lesson is plain. The nation which misuses national privileges and neglects national opportunities shall lose them both, and without a head, a corporate life, a settled abiding-place, shall learn the truth of the saying, "The Lord reigneth. He taketh down one, and setteth up another." II. THE PRIVATION OF RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES WAS PUNISHMENT FOR IRRELIGION AND SPIRITUAL REBELLION. The Hebrews were highly favored in their possession, not only of the Law, but of a priesthood, a dispensation of sacrifices and festivals and various means of communion with Heaven. As preparatory to a more spiritual economy, these arrangements were invaluable. But the enjoyment of them was justly made dependent upon their proper estimation and employment. The northern tribes, by their secession, forfeited some of these advantages, and they largely corrupted to their own injury such as remained. The time came when, in Oriental captivity, they mourned the loss of advantages they had too often despised and misused. And now, as they are scattered among the nations, they possess neither the sacrifices of the heathen nor the sacrifice of the Messiah, and are either condemned to a barren and unhappy seclusion or to a yet sadder alliance with the deists of the lands in which they dwell. A lesson to all who neglect the precious opportunities with which they are favored by Providence. "Walk in the light whilst ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." - T.
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king. Into the state here described the Ten Tribes were brought upon their captivity, and (those only excepted who joined the Two Tribes, or have been converted to the Gospel) they have ever since remained in it. Into that same condition the two tribes were brought, after that, by "killing the Son," they had "filled up the measure of their father's" sins, and the second temple, which His presence had hallowed, was destroyed by the Romans. In that condition they have ever since remained; free from idolatry, and in a state of waiting for God, yet looking in vain for a Messias, since they had not and would not receive Him who came unto them. Praying to God, yet without sacrifice for sin. Not owned by God, yet kept distinct and apart by His providence for a future yet to be revealed. "No one of their own nation has been able to gather them together, or to become their king." Julian the apostate attempted in vain to rebuild their temple. God interposed by miracles to hinder the effort which challenged His omnipotence. David's temporal kingdom has perished, and his line is lost, because Shiloh, the Peacemaker, is come. The typical priesthood ceased, in presence of the true "Priest after the order of Melchizedek." The line Of Aaron is forgotten, unknown, and cannot be recovered. Sacrifice, the centre of their religion, has ceased and become unlawful. Still their characteristic has been to wait. Their prayer as to the Christ has been, "May He soon be revealed." Eighteen centuries have flowed by. Their eyes have failed with looking for God's promise, whence it is not to be found. Nothing has changed this character in the mass of the people. Oppressed, released, favoured, despised, or aggrandised; in East or West; hating Christians, loving to blaspheme Christ, forced (as they would remain Jews) to explain away the prophecies which speak of Him, deprived of the sacrifices which, to their forefathers, spoke of Him and His atonement; — still, as a mass, they blindly wait for Him, the true knowledge of whom, His offices, His priesthood, and His kingdom, they have laid aside. And God has been towards them. He has preserved them from mingling with idolaters or Mahommedans. Oppression has not extinguished them, favour has not bribed them. He has kept them from abandoning their mangled worship, or the Scripture which they understand not, and whose true meaning they believe not; they have fed on the raisin-husks of a barren ritual and unspiritual legalism, since the Holy Spirit they have grieved away. Yet they exist still, a monument to Us, of God's abiding wrath on sin, as Lot's wife was to them, encrusted, stiff, lifeless, only that we know "the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live."(E. B. Pusey, D. D.) People David, Hosea, IsraelitesPlaces JezreelTopics Abide, Dwell, Ephod, Household, Idol, Idols, Image, Images, Offerings, Pillar, Pillars, Prince, Ruler, Sacred, Sacrifice, Sit, Solitary, Sons, Standing, Statue, Stone, Stones, TeraphimOutline 1. The Lord's intended future kindness to Israel, not withstanding their wickedness, 2. illustrated by the emblem of Hosea's conduct toward his adulterous wife. 4. The desolation of Israel before their restoration. Dictionary of Bible Themes Hosea 3:4 4366 stones 6636 drawing near to God Library Whether Devils have FaithWhether Devils Have Faith We proceed to the second article thus: 1. It seems that devils do not have faith. For Augustine says that "faith depends on the will of those who believe" {De Praed. Sanct. 5). Now the will whereby one wills to believe in God is good. But there is no deliberate good will in devils. Hence it seems that devils do not have faith. 2. Again, faith is a gift of grace, according to Eph. 2:8: "For by grace ye are saved through faith . . . it is the gift of God." Now the gloss on … Aquinas—Nature and Grace The Millennium in Relation to Israel. The Night of Miracles on the Lake of Gennesaret The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth The Progress of the Gospel In the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius Cæsar and under the Pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas - a Voice in the Wilderness Redemption for Man Lost to be Sought in Christ. Hosea Links Hosea 3:4 NIVHosea 3:4 NLT Hosea 3:4 ESV Hosea 3:4 NASB Hosea 3:4 KJV Hosea 3:4 Bible Apps Hosea 3:4 Parallel Hosea 3:4 Biblia Paralela Hosea 3:4 Chinese Bible Hosea 3:4 French Bible Hosea 3:4 German Bible Hosea 3:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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