Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. The words of the text are a dire spectre to some. 1. The view of it taken by the alarmed sinner. Ephraim is understood by him to represent the sinner at a supposed point in his career, at which he has exhausted all the resources of Gospel grace, and sinned himself out of hope into doom. He is still a living man, and enveloped in the showers of spiritual influence; but only seemingly, so far as he is concerned. The Spirit has abandoned him for ever. All saving agencies and influences are commanded to do the same. This view still lamentably prevails. It is often preached, in austerest terms, from the pulpit, and found grimly enshrined in our popular commentaries. There are indeed some awful truths which God forbid that we should blink. A sinner may harden himself into insensibility till he is twine dead, last feeling, defiant of God, and even regardless of man. And his is a very hopeless case. More over, if we misuse privileges and opportunities, God may withdraw some of them in His judicial wisdom, — as, in the contrary case, He may enlarge them. But the vicious view so often taken of the prophet's words is quite another thing. That view is rooted in certain dogmas of absolute predestination and partial grace, which agree as ill with the Gospel as fire does with water. 2. Look at the common view critically. Scripture contradicts it. The Gospel contradicts it. Hosea himself, throughout this book, emphatically contradicts it. (1) Scripture contradicts it. Where is it taught? Give and criticise the passages relied on (Genesis 6:3; 1 Peter 3:18-20; 1 Samuel 28:15; Luke 19:42). (2) The Gospel contradicts it. The Bible is one thing, the Gospel is another. The Bible is the collection of inspired records: the Gospel is the good news therein contained of salvation through Christ crucified for every creature under heaven. But good news to every man this Gospel cannot be, if some living men are already sealed up for perdition. A limited atonement is absolutely irreconcilable with a universal Gospel, and no less so is a limited provision of the Spirit. The section we are examining is one way of limiting the Spirit, and it is one which takes the great living heart out of the Gospel. But as God is true, the Gospel is good news, and brings salvation to every living man. (3) Hosea himself contradicts it. Ephraim means, not an individual, but a nation. Desolation is to befall Israel, but the "valley of Achor" is to be to her "a door of hope" (Hosea 2:14-23; Hosea 5:15; Hosea 6:1-3; Hosea 10:12; Hosea 11:1-9; Hosea 12). 3. What is the true view to be taken of the text? The key to it is to be found in the context. While Ephraim had become hopelessly wedded to idolatry, Judah, the adjoining kingdom of the two tribes, had not yet plunged into that foul and ruinous abyss (Hosea 11:12). Judah was, however, in imminent danger of drifting after Ephraim into that terrible vortex. Hence the twofold warning in the passage now before us — the formal warning to Judah, and the yet more awful undertone of warning to Ephraim. "Ephraim is joined to idols." "Let not Judah offend"; that is, "Judah, hold aloof; let Ephraim alone." Ephraim is the consociate of idolatries; Judah, be not Ephraim's associate. Partake not Ephraim's sins, lest ye partake Ephraim's plagues. The very expression, "Let him alone," is used by our Lord in this same sense, when warning His disciples against the Pharisees — "They be blind leaders of the blind; let them alone." The meaning is — beware of their companionship. Have nothing to do with them. Gilgal and Bethel, which Judah was warned not to visit, were on the very border between the rival kingdoms. This conterminous position, and the sacred associations of the places made them specially perilous. The moral is obvious. 1. Beware of freedom, falsely so called. There is a liberty which means libertinism, and which always "genders to bondage." 2. Beware of evil company. It has been the ruin of myriads (1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Faithful Judah, however strong in purpose, ran a terrible risk if he associated with treacherous Ephraim. 3. Let us beware of doubting the fulness and freeness of God's pardoning mercy, as revealed in the Gospel, to all men everywhere. Nothing but a desperate bent in this direction can account for the perversion of such simple texts as the one we have been investigating. ( T. Guthrie, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. |
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