Hosea 4:5

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

Common destruction

The threatening is that destruction should come upon such sinners and on the false prophets who flattered and soothed them up in this course. Learn--

1. Men’s opposing of the Word, their rejecting of reproof, and blessing themselves when they are rid of it, will not avail them, nor hold off wrath, but rather hasten it.

2. How high soever men exalt themselves in their opposition to God and His truth, yet that guilt will bring them down, and when God begins to reckon, He will teach every sinner particularly.

3. Vengeance can reach sinners in the height of their prosperity, and can ruin them suddenly and unavoidably.

4. It is a plague upon sinners that when they go farthest wrong, and oppose the faithful servants of God, yet they will never want corrupt men pretending to come in God’s name to bolster them up in their evil way, and God hath a sad controversy against such seducers.

5. However sinners shelter themselves under the privileges of a visible Church or state, yet the Lord may let them find that their sin doth not only undo themselves, but bring utter desolation also on the Church and nation whereof they are. Therefore it is subjoined, “And I will destroy thy mother.” (George Hutcheson.)