Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them! Sermons
I. IN RESPECT OF FRUITFULNESS. (Vers. 11, 12.) Fruitfulness and strength of numbers was an especial part of the promise to Ephraim (Genesis 49:22, 26; Deuteronomy 33:17), even as a numerous posterity was the promise to Israel generally. This "glory" would now be taken from the people that boasted of it. Licentiousness had already, in part, undermined the nation's strength (Hosea 4:10). The sword would now finish what their own misconduct had begun. As in a previous figure (Hosea 8:7), and in ver. 16, the curse is represented as working to the frustration of the people's wishes at every stage in the advance of their hopes. First, there is no conception; then, in the cases where there is conception, there is "a miscarrying womb" (ver. 14); then, at the stage of birth, there is failure to bring forth; even if the child is born, it is doomed to be killed by the sword. Nothing goes right; everything goes wrong; there is but woe, failure, frustration, disappointment, when God departs from us. The numbers of a nation are in God's hand. He can bless or he can blast. His judgment works both through natural laws and events of providence. II. IN RESPECT OF PLEASANTNESS. (Vers. 13, 14, 16.) God designed for Ephraim a situation pleasant as that of Tyre; he had in reserve for him all "precious things" "blessings of the heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under" (Genesis 49:25, 26; Deuteronomy 33:13-15). Thus gloriously planted, Ephraim was to be the cynosure of the tribes, a paragon of sweetness and beauty. How ghastly the contrast - "But Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer" (ver. 13)! 1. A worm at the root. "Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit," etc. (ver. 16). This is the fate of all glory without God. Its root is not drawn from the sources of perennial life in the eternal One. It has in it the principle of decay. It is a glory of the world, fading, perishing. Sic transeat. The Christian's inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away (1 Peter 1:4). 2. Ruthless butchery. (Vers. 13, 16.) The pleasantness of Ephraim would be smutched with the blood of his own children - the "beloved ones, the darlings of the womb. The very thought of the carnage that is to come almost makes the prophet's brain reel. He has threatened Ephraim with barrenness, but now that he has to frame a prayer for his people, he can think of no kinder one than that they may have a miscarrying womb and dry breasts" (cf. Luke 23:29). One woe swallows up another, and makes it all but seem a blessing in comparison. Terrible, truly, when God departs! III. IN RESPECT OF SETTLEMENT. (Vers. 15, 17.) Ephraim would be driven from God's house, i.e. rejected from being his people, or spiritual house, and would be sent abroad as "wanderers among the nations." This, again, was in contradistinction to the original design of a permanent settlement as the Lord's people in the Lord's land. 1. The often-reiterated cause of the banishment is here again specified. The people were driven out (1) for their wickedness, which had assumed peculiarly aggravated and concentrated forms ("in Gilgal"); and (2) for their obduracy: "They did not hearken unto him," i.e. God. Even their wickedness would not have ruined them, had they repented of it when God reproved and pleaded with them. Now the day for repentance was past. "I will love them no more." 2. The doom is further individualized. "Wanderers among the nations." Such are the Jews at this day. Prophecy never spoke a truer word. - J.O.
They went to Baal-peer, and separated themselves unto that shame. Homilist. The shame here alluded to was idolatry.I. ALL SIN IS SHAME. 1. It is shame in its commission. People seldom do iniquity in the full blaze of day. They would rather not be seen in its commission. It is shameful to be a sinner; to possess reason and to play the part of an idiot; to have liberty and to act the part of a slave; to be admitted to the arms of a benefactor and then to stab him in return. 2. It is a shame in its consequence. It produces shame. "Thou shalt be confounded," says God, "because of your shame." "The wicked shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt." II. SIN IS SEPARATION. Before a man can join the army of sin he must leave the service of God. Hence he separates himself. From what? 1. From the love, protection, guidance, and companionship of his God. What blessings to turn his back upon! 2. From the principles of truth, righteousness, and grace. He becomes another character. All that can exalt him is left behind. 3. From the prospect of future bliss. (Homilist.) People Baalpeor, HoseaPlaces Assyria, Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, Gibeah, Gilgal, MemphisTopics Aside, Bereave, Bring, Childless, Complete, Depart, Departed, Evil-doing, Growth, Indeed, None, Nourish, Rear, Shame, Sons, Surely, Though, Till, Turn, Wo, Woe, Yea, Yes, YetOutline 1. The distress and captivity of Israel for their sins.Dictionary of Bible Themes Hosea 9:11Library Of Councils and their Authority. 1. The true nature of Councils. 2. Whence the authority of Councils is derived. What meant by assembling in the name of Christ. 3. Objection, that no truth remains in the Church if it be not in Pastors and Councils. Answer, showing by passages from the Old Testament that Pastors were often devoid of the spirit of knowledge and truth. 4. Passages from the New Testament showing that our times were to be subject to the same evil. This confirmed by the example of almost all ages. 5. All not Pastors who … John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation John's Introduction. Hosea Links Hosea 9:12 NIVHosea 9:12 NLT Hosea 9:12 ESV Hosea 9:12 NASB Hosea 9:12 KJV Hosea 9:12 Bible Apps Hosea 9:12 Parallel Hosea 9:12 Biblia Paralela Hosea 9:12 Chinese Bible Hosea 9:12 French Bible Hosea 9:12 German Bible Hosea 9:12 Commentaries Bible Hub |