Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Hosea
Book: Hosea
Chapter: 9
Overview:
The distress to come upon
Israel.
(1-6) The approach of the
Day of trouble.
(7-10) Judgments
On Israel.
(11-17)
1-6 Israel gave rewards to their idols, in the offerings
presented to them. It is common for those who are niggardly in
religion, to be prodigal upon their lusts. Those are reckoned as
idolaters, who
Love a reward in the
Corn-floor better than a
reward in the favour of
God and in eternal
Life. They are full
of the joy of
Harvest, and have
No disposition to
Mourn for
Sin.
When we make the world, and the things of it, our
Idol and our
portion, it is just with
God to show us our folly, and correct
us. None may expect to
Dwell in the
Lord's land, who will not be
subject to the
Lord's laws, or be influenced
By his
Love. When
we enjoy the
Means of Grace, we ought to consider what we shall
do, if they should be taken from us. While the pleasures of
Communion with
God are out of the reach of change, the pleasant
places purchased with
Silver, or in which men deposit
Silver,
are liable to be laid in ruins.
No Famine is
So dreadful as that
of the soul.
7-10 Time had been when the spiritual watchmen of
Israel were
with the
Lord, but now they were like the
Snare of a
Fowler to
entangle persons to their ruin. The people were become as
corrupt as those of
Gibeah, Jud 19; and their crimes should be
visited in like manner. At first
God had found
Israel pleasing
to Him, as grapes to the traveller in the
Wilderness. He saw
them with pleasure as the first ripe figs. This shows the
delight
God took in them; yet they followed after
Idolatry.
11-17. God departs from a people, or from a person, when he
withdraws his
Goodness and
Mercy from them; and when the
Lord is
departed, what can the
Creature do? Even though, for the
present, good things seem to remain, yet the blessing is gone if
God is gone. Even the children should perish with the parents.
The Divine wrath dries up the root, and withers the
Fruit of all
comforts; and the scattered Jews daily warn us to beware, lest
we neglect or abuse the
Gospel. Yet every smiting is not a
drying up of the root. It may be that
God intends only to smite
So that the sap may be turned to the root, that there may be
more of root graces, more
Humility, patience,
Faith, and
self-denial. It is very just that
God should bring judgments
On
those who slight his offered
Mercy.