October 1927
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
650
For the sake of checking the progress of sin in the human race, wicked nations had to be completely cut off. When our learned critics become as wise as God, they will see that it was right, because absolutely necessary. This strain alone,, however, does not do justice to the. tenderness and loving pity of Israel’s God. Over and over again God told His people that He had no pleasure ip bringing ruin even on the guiltiest sinners. He did not then, and He does- not now, punish in the spirit of vindictiveness. He will always spare the sinner, and forbear even to chastise, if He can do so wisely and safely. No sinner, however severely punished, can ever blame God. It is our own refusal to confess and forsake our sins that brings the rod upon us. Let us not fail to notice the attractive characters by which God is introduced in Chap. 14:4-8. He is the Healer of the deep-seated diseases >of backsliding and apostasy (v. 4). Prodigals though we may be, He loves us freely (cf. Jn. 13:1). He gives Himself and all of His. infinite resources to restore and bless the way- ■ward. “I veill be as the dew unto Israel," He declares (v. 5). This silent, refreshing -and invigorating force is the Scriptural emblem of the Holy Spirit. By this di vine touch, the soul grows up rapidly and luxuriantly “as the lily" (v. 5). The life touched by this heavenly dew is the life of fragrance and beauty. It is the life that, like the deeply rooted cedars of “Lebanon” (v. 5), has a foundation that will withstand, the fiercest winds. “His beauty shall be as the olive tree” (v. 6). A life thus divinely inwrought will send its branches in every direction and will produce the elements which shall provide healing and nourishment for others. Assuredly these are not words to Israel alone. This spiritual healing, this re freshing, this growth as beautified as the blooming lily, as fruitful as the spreading olive, is for all who will look unto the God of love and be saved. Let these words become reality to you today by looking away to that green hill beyond the city gate, where God poured out His love to’ mankind in the gift of His Son, to atone for all our sins. —o— P i t h a n d P o in t Whom God loves He' calls out of bondage (v. 1; cf. Gal. 5:13).‘ “ ’Tis better thrice to ask the way than even once to go. astray.” He who would have victory must fol low his back-track and get right with God. Any man can backslide, but only the fool will continue in it. Remember that when spiritual progress Ceases, backsliding has begun. A God all mercy would be a God unjust. God desires to exhaust all means of kindness before He takes hold on justice. —o— S u g g e s t iv e Q u e s t io n s Has God ever covenanted with any nation just as He did with Israel? (Hos. 11: 1. Cf. Psa. 147:19-20.) Did God have a special purpose in separating Israel from other nations? (Deut. 7:6-8.) What seven things did God do for Israel?" (Hos. 11 :l-4.) Is God, in His love, just as ready to hold up the individual believer today by
told them if they continued in their sin ful life, they would not get to live in the beautiful homes they were building; nor eat the delicious fruit from the vine yards they had planted. He told them their offerings and their worship were no joy to Him (God), because their hearts were wrong. When we do not treat others right, we are sinning against God. Amos told them there was; still hope for them if they would seek God. (Teach M.. V.) Prayer. ^¿£. ^¿C,
getting God, and doing the same evil deeds as the people of long ago. Listen very carefully and see how God’s mes sage to Israel began. “Thus saith the Lord unto/ the house of Israel, Seek ye Me and ye shall live.” God wanted the peo ple to understand it was His word, even though it was coming through the proph et’s lips. Israel was letting money and pleasure come in between them and God, and Amos tells them to seek God who made the heavens and the stars. He also
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N o v e m b e r 13, 1927 Hosea Preaches God’s Love Lesson Text—-Hosea 11:1-9; 14:4-8
promise : “I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isa. 41:10), most of us would stand little, chance of reaching the mansions above. “I drew them (not drove them) with the cords of a man” (v. 4). .This sug gests the gentleness of God in. dealing ■ with Israel. He did not use cords hitched to a headstrong, untamed bullock. The cords were “hands of love.” In spite of their rebelliousness, God continued, as He does with us, to use all the sweet attractions' which His manifested love naturally creates. What a responsibility is ours who are drawn by thè cross of Christ, the supreme manifestation of His love ! “I was to them as they that take off the yok’ijion their jaws” (v. 4). It is the figure of the kind husbandman. The yokes of Oriental countries were heavy and ill-adapted to the comfort of an ani mal while eating. m ‘1 brought food to them and caused them to eat," He con tinues. Has our Lord done less for us? He puts an “easy yoke” upon us (Matt. 11:28-29) and He. puts before us “the bread of heaven” (Jn. 6 :32), Oh, ines timable love! Who can afford to spurn it? Alas, how many are drawn who will not come ! ' How many, like the Israelites of old, hear the voice of God from the cross ; in their mercies and afflictions ; in the invitations and warnings of the Bible —to which they pay no heed ! Did any one ever heed His voice in vain? Have not thousands rushed on in their rejection of His call until the Lord had to “con sume their branches and devour them be cause of their own counsels”? (v. 6). “How shall I give thee up?” (v. 8). This is God’s thought as the hour ap proaches. when judgment must fall upon a people fast reaching the limits of sin. These Words and those of Chap. 14:4-8 can scarcely be heightened in their beauty by any word of comment. The very heart of the God of love stands revealed. Remember—this is the God of the Old Testament, concerning Whom some of the modern critics are making such a terrific fuss. He is precisely the same God revealed in the New Testament— the God Who laid bare His heart by giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins. The Israelites were no strangers to the fact that “God is love.” Of necessity, stringent and stern re bukes for sin had to be given a people who, although so highly privileged, per sisted in hardening their hearts toward God. Oftentimes terrible revelations of impending judgments had to be given.
'T'HE strain of rebuke and of forewarn- ing of j udgment have run through the prophecies of Hosea up to the elev enth chapter. Here the thought turns
t o reminiscences o f love, and to touching expressions o f pity over t h e impending ruin of Israel. As the mouthpiece of God, the prophet says: “When Israel was a child, then I called my son out of
loved, him and Egypt”mv- ill ____ _ . _ He thinks of the nation as having a lifetime analogous to that of an individual, running from infancy, through youth to manhood. How wonderfully God had manifested His care over the fathers of this nation! The descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been under His loving watch- care during all their oppressions under the Pharaohs. It was by His call that Moses had been separated, trained, com missioned, and made, under God, the deliverer of the people from their bondage. We may well afford to reflect upon God’s goodness toward us in pur childish and foolish ways. It is interesting to notice that the words, “I ' called my son out of Egypt,” are quoted by Matthew as having an applica tion to Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:15). As uttered by Hosea, they refer historically to the fact of the Lord’s goodness in calling Israel out of Egypt. Matthew points to it as fulfilled in the infant Jesus, Who was for a time sent into Egypt, and again brought out of it. This arose from the typical connection be- • tween the Messiah and Israel. He was the personified Israel, the true seed of Abraham. This discovers for us a bond of connection between the old and new dispensations. Each child of God is, indeed, called out of the Egypt of this world. It is God’s love as revealed on Calvary’s cross that has made the way out. It is a call fpr us to arise, in the power of the in dwelling Holy Spirit, and set out on our journey to the heavenly City, The pity is that many who have, started this jour ney have paused by the way, as did Israel, to offer meaningless sacrifices and to burn incense to false religions (v. 2). Again and again, God in His love has to stoop and pick up His wayward chil dren “by the arms” (v. 3) and -by His providences lift them out of the com promising situations into which they have gotten themselves. Were it not for His
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