Hosea 14:9-10

THE MORAL OF HOSEA’S PROPHECIES

‘These things.’

Hosea 14:9

Hosea was a good man in a bad time. He let his light shine, and it shone the brighter because of the darkness. He walked straight in crooked surroundings. He dared to be right when all the world was wrong. The voice of the people did not shut his ears to the voice of God. He listened to hear what God might say, and then he spoke without fear or withholding. God needs prophets wherever there is wickedness.

I. The story of the Prodigal Son was repeated in Hosea’s time, with the difference that a nation was the prodigal.—Israel had left the Father’s house, and now it was eating the unsatisfying husks of sin. Hosea was the voice to call the prodigal home. It is true that whole nations may sin and incur God’s punishment. Our own nation’s hope is in being true to God. Her wealth and possessions cannot make her great; Israel was never richer nor larger than in Hosea’s time. Our patriotism and our religion should unite in impelling us to labour for the holiness of our country. Righteousness alone exalteth a nation.

II. Foolish persons sometimes get ‘too big’ for religion.—They think they can get along very well without it. Nations have adopted the same principle, scores of times, and have surrendered their faith in God. Inevitably, of course, iniquity has followed infidelity in the history of nations, as usually in the case of individuals. When we give up God it does not take long to give up goodness. When a tide of unbelief sweeps over a people it is usually followed by a wave of wickedness. And, as in the case of Israel, prosperity cannot long abide with dissoluteness and debauchery. Drunken hands cannot hold either gold or land. So poverty stalks after sin. The bad people soon become the poor people. It never pays—to consider the subject on the lowest ground—to try to get along without God. When religion departs, righteousness and prosperity follow.

III. The trouble with Israel, as with us, was one that Assyria or Egypt could not mend.—There are some difficulties in which friends and neighbours can be of no help. The secret of Israel’s distress was sin, which is likewise the secret of most everything that is wrong in our life and in the world to-day. There is only one source of help for sin—God. The remedy that alone can make whole and holy is the love and power of our offended Father. Turning to God is the only way to better our condition and to secure happiness. In His forgiveness is peace and prosperity. God alone can kelp in life’s greatest difficulties.

Illustration

‘ “Have you ever been here before?” demanded a magistrate of a prisoner. “Once, your honour, and you let me go. Please let me off again.” But the second offence found no mercy with the court, and the man was sent to jail. This is the world’s way. It may forgive once, but there its forgiveness ends. But the mercy of God—how great it is! Again and again He forgives the penitent sinner. His pity and tender mercy are beyond finding out.’