_Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation._ THE EAST WIND IN PALESTINE Coming from Arabia and the far East, over large tracts of sandy waste, is parching, scorching, destructive to vegetation, oppressive to man, violent and destructive on t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And by his strength he had power with God._ WRESTLING JACOB This story has a strange fascination for most Bible readers, due, in part, to the vividness with which it is told; in part, to the deep spiritual truth which it half reveals and half conceals. Jacob recalls in his prayer the time when he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial._ THE NAME JEHOVAH AS A MEMORIAL To stir them up to present duty, Hosea describes God, who did all this, and spake to Jacob, as the true God and God of armies. It teaches-- 1. Christ is, without all controversy true God, the same in essence an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and Judgment, and wait on thy God continually._ INSTRUCTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED AND TO THE CONVERTED As encouragement to repentance, the example of the patriarch Jacob is presented. Let the descendants of the patriarch copy his example; let them seek God... [ Continue Reading ]
_He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress, etc._ FORTUNES I. Fortunes badly used. 1. Here there is no recognition of human co-operation. No man comes in possession of wealth without the efforts of some men either living or dead. Wealth, in most cases, is the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast._ THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES AS A TYPE This feast was the yearly remembrance Of God’s miraculous guidance and support of Israel through the wilderness. It was the link which bound on their deliverance from Egypt to the close of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have also spoken by the prophets._ THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING THE REVEALED WORD OF GOD This is a further declaration of God’s goodness to this people, and an upbraiding of them for their wickedness, when they have had so many means. 1. It is God who speaks by the prophets. Though the prophet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore shall He leave his blood upon him._ THE BLOOD-FIGURE: SIN AND GUILT LEFT UPON THE SINNER That is, he shall bring his sin upon his own head. Those that be wilful in sin, their blood be upon their own heads that is the meaning. Never stand excusing any more, you have warning enough. If you... [ Continue Reading ]