Homilist Hosea 2:12-13 And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she has said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me… The wicked — I. AS PROSPERING IN THE WORLD. Vines and fig-trees stand for prosperity. Wicked men are allowed to prosper on this earth: they are often more successful in worldly enterprises than the righteous. They live for the world and to the world, and they have their reward. II. AS ASCRIBING THEIR PROSPERITY TO WRONG CAUSES. Israel ascribes to its idols or lovers. The wicked ascribe to fortune, chance, their own industry, their own scheming. The true source is God. III. DEVOTING THEIR PROSPERITY TO WRONG OBJECTS. Israel is here accused of burning incense to Baalim, these Deii minores. Wicked men devote their wealth to their own selfish and superstitious ends. IV. AS DEPRIVED OF THEIR PROSPERITY BY THE GREAT GOD. The threatening here is, that God will not only destroy all their prosperity, but punish them for their idolatry. "The tinsel glare upon a sinner is too apt to offend the weak eyes of a saint." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. |
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