016. II. Earlier Sermons Delivered Between 750 And 740 B.C.
II EARLIER SERMONS DELIVERED BETWEEN 750 AND 740 B.C.
1. The Private Experiences of the Prophet (Hosea 1:2-3 a; Hosea 3:1-3; cf. Hosea 2:2-23)
Hosea’s marriage to Gomer (Hosea 1:2-3a). You are all familiar, fellow-Israelites, with my sad personal experience. As I look back upon those hopeful days of my youth when I wedded Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, I can see that all the pain and agony which have followed in the train of that act have not been without their compensations. I felt that the same Jehovah guided me then who has guided me since in my work as a prophet. True, I had no absolute assurance that she whom I wedded would prove more faithful than many of her sisters who, under the corrupt influences of this age, have sinned so grossly; but the love which I gave her was strong and pure, and I trusted that she would return it His attempts to reclaim his erring wife (Hosea 3:1-3). You all know how bitterly I was deceived, and yet you can never know the agony I endured when I discovered the evidence of her faithlessness. If I had loved her less, I should have simply divorced her as our customs permit Weak, false though she was, I could not forget the solemn covenant into which we had entered, and abandon her to her fate; and so I forgave and overlooked her gross infidelity, and tried by greater tenderness and acts of love to woo her back to the path of rectitude. Alas! bitterly was I disappointed in my endeavor. In her folly and perversity she spurned my love and fled from my home to live a life of infamy. Undoubtedly, many would then have only tried to forget her, but I could not because of my great love. When I heard that she had fallen so low that she had been put up for sale as a slave, I ransomed her. Kindness having failed, the love within my heart commanded me, as a last means, to strive by discipline to lead her to true repentance. The lessons which his tragic experience taught him (Cf.Hosea 2:2-23). You all know the result. Painful, yes, tragic, has been my experience, and you doubtless feel for me only pity, if not contempt, because you think that I have squandered my affection upon such an unworthy object Pity I certainly deserve, and yet in this trying school of affliction I have learned lessons which have made me the prophet that I am. Now I realize the anguish which the sin of a dear one brings to the heart which loves; now I understand how the flame of true love can burn clear and strong even though the object of that affection stumble and fall; now I perceive clearly that judgment is but an expression of love, for ofttimes chastisement is the only method of reclaiming the fallen; now I know how eager, yes, willing, is a loving heart to forgive all the bitter wrongs which it has received from the one beloved, when once that sinner gives evidence of true contrition. If you would understand my message, recall the personal experiences of the man who utters it.
2. Living Sermons (Hosea 1:3-9)
Significance of the name Jezreel, (Hosea 1:3-5). When Gomer brought to me her first-born son, I gave him no sweet, pleasing name like my own,[5] but, sent as I was by Jehovah to preach to my nation, I called him Jezreel. Naturally, the people, filled with curiosity, inquired why I associated with an innocent baby the name of Israel’s blood-stained battle-field. Thereupon I declared to them the truth, as it had been revealed to me: The day will quickly come when Jehovah will punish the reigning house of Israel for the bloody crime whereby its founder Jehu secured the throne, slaying his royal master on that plain of Jezreel. On the same historic battle-field shall be broken the strength of the northern kingdom.”
[5] Hoshea, the same as Joshua or Jesus, meaning “salvation.”
Significance of the name Lo-ruhamah (Hosea 1:6). When my faithless wife again bore a child, this time a daughter, the anguish aroused in my heart by the knowledge of her infidelity led me more perfectly to appreciate the divine indignation kindled by Israel’s persistent apostasy. Accordingly I gathered up that new revelation in the one word, “Lo-ruhamah,”—“unpitied,”—and gave it to the little girl, thus making her likewise a living prophecy to be read by all men at all times. By this name I proclaimed that “No longer, O house of Israel, will Jehovah pity and pardon you as he has done in the past.”
Significance of the name Lo-ammi (Hosea 1:8-9). To the youngest boy also I gave the name “Lo-ammi,” whose meaning, “not my people,” was so unequivocal that even the most obtuse could not fail to perceive that it was a declaration that Jehovah had completely repudiated the close covenant relations between the nation Israel and himself.
3.The Relationship between Jehovah and Israel in Retrospect and Prospect(Hosea 2:2-23)
Jehovah’s fidelity and Israel’s infidelity (Hosea 2:2-5).·Indeed, almost too terrible to be credible are the grim predictions contained in the names Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-ammi; and yet while the nation Israel persists in its apostasy no other relationship between her and Jehovah than that which they suggest is possible. Therefore I implore you, O fellow-citizens, in the name of God, spare no effort whereby you may, perchance, influence this nation, our common mother, to turn from her gross crimes, and from her apostasy, before she forfeits forever the possibility of divine forgiveness. As I was wedded to my wife Gomer, so Jehovah, at the beginning of Israel’s national life, chose and entered into a solemn covenant relation with Israel. On the one hand, Jehovah covenanted to love and care for his people, while the nation, on the other, agreed faithfully to serve and obey him. How has that solemn contract been kept? You well know that, even as I heaped upon my wife all the blessings a loving heart could suggest, so Jehovah has been absolutely true to his obligations, delivering Israel from innumerable perils, and bestowing upon her freely the wealth of his infinite love. And this nation? Gomer is its true type; for as soon as Israel became established in Palestine she began to forget Jehovah and to pay homage to the Canaanitish Baal. In her folly she thought that the heathen God of fertility would reward her infidelity by blessing her fields and flocks. Thus like the most shameless wanton she sold herself for hire, sinning and sinning again, until Jehovah recognized, as did I in the case of my wife, that favors would not turn the erring one from the path of guilt Eternal love must therefore, in the light of the circumstances, find a higher expression in discipline.
Israel must be disciplined (Hosea 2:6-13). By painful experience the wilful nation must be made to see the utter folly and wickedness of her course. Therefore Jehovah declares that not mercy, but judgment, impends. When her lands and vineyards are laid waste, then shall Israel realize who was the real source of her prosperity. Through hard adversity shall she learn that she has sold herself to Baal for worse than naught. Upon her head shall be visited the consequences of her dallying with this corrupt heathen religion. The discipline intended to arouse contrition (Hosea 2:14-17). Jehovah, however, will not punish Israel merely because she deserves it, but as the last means of arousing true contrition. When once that end is attained, he will speak to her heart with infinite tenderness. During her period of national affliction new hopes shall be kindled, for she shall come back into the old relationship with Jehovah, which characterized those earlier and simpler days, when he delivered her from the bondage of Egypt. The names of the heathen gods upon whom she now calls shall be forgotten. Not even shall she address Jehovah as “Ba’ali,” my master, but by the nobler and much more intimate name of “Ishi,” my husband; for he will renew, on the basis of mutual fidelity and love, the old covenant, comparable in its close ness and reciprocal obligations only to that which exists between husband and wife. The reconciliation and glorious restoration, which shall follow Israel’s repentance (Hosea 2:18-23). Penitent, forgiven Israel shall then faithfully do the will of Jehovah. The benign influence of this harmonious relationship between God and his chosen people will extend to all the animal world. In that distant day, when the divine will is done on earth, war and strife between Jehovah’s creatures will cease, and peace shall reign. Moreover, the Eternal will gladly give command to the heavens, and they will send down the refreshing rains upon the earth, which in turn will put forth its fruits in richest abundance for the beloved people. Then, O Israelites, the name Jezreel, which to-day is a reminder of impending retribution, true to the meaning of the word, will well describe that nation “whom Jehovah has sown.” Israel now designated as ««Lo-ruhamah” shall be called “the one who has obtained mercy, and they, who were rejected; shall be addressed by Jehovah as “my people.”
4. Predictions respecting Israel’s Immediate and Distant Future (Hosea 3:4-5; Hosea 1:10 to Hosea 2:1) In the absence of true contrition captivity is certain (Hosea 3:4). It is clear, O fellow-Israelites! that you eagerly long to see that glorious day, with its peace and prosperity of which you have heard me speak. Know that Jehovah is eager to institute it at once and that whether it is realized now or in some distant time depends entirely upon your own action. But as I behold with enlightened eyesight your defiant attitude, and how deep seated are your sins, I predict that certain captivity awaits you. For a long time you shall be deprived both of political organization and religious services. An ultimate restoration is also assured (Hosea 3:5;Hosea 1:10toHosea 2:1). [In the distant future, after captivity has done its preparatory work, the Israelites shall return repentant, craving forgiveness, and eager to serve Jehovah, and submit to the rule of the Davidic king. Then shall their numbers become as the sands of the sea, innumerable; Jehovah’s decree of rejection will be revoked, and they shall again be known as “the sons of the living God.” From the lands of their captivity the Israelites and Judeans shall be gathered to Canaan, and at last, again united, will elect over them one head. Then shall all animosity disappear before the common joy of restoration, of forgiveness, and of reconciliation with Jehovah.]