Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Hosea
Book: Hosea
Chapter: 10
Overview:
The
Idolatry of
Israel.
(1-8) They are exhorted to
Repentance.
(9-15)
1-8 A
Vine is only valuable for its
Fruit; but
Israel now
brought
No Fruit to
Perfection. Their hearts were divided.
God
is the Sovereign of the
Heart; he will have all, or none. Were
the stream of the
Heart wholly after
God, it would run strongly,
and
Bear down all before it. Their pretences to
Covenant with
God were false. Even the proceeding of
Justice was as poisonous
Hemlock. Alas, how empty a
Vine is the visible
Church even at
this
Day! But all earthly prosperity is but a
Collection of
bubbles, soon destroyed like
Foam upon the water. Sinners will
in vain seek shelter from that
Judge, whom they now despise as a
Saviour.
9-15 Because
God does not desire the
Death and ruin of sinners,
therefore in
Mercy he desires their chastisement. The children
of iniquity still remained in
Israel. The enemies would be
gathered against them. It is just with
God to make those know
what hardships mean, who indulge themselves in ease and
pleasure. Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt
affections and lusts, and be a broken and contrite
Spirit. Let
them abound in
Works of
Piety towards
God, and of
Justice and
Charity towards one another: herein let them sow to the
Spirit.
Seeking the
Lord is to be every
Day's work, but there are
special occasions when to seek him.
Christ shall come as the
Lord our
Righteousness, and grant us of it abundantly. If we sow
in
Righteousness, we shall reap according to
Mercy; a reward not
of
Debt, but of
Grace. Even the gains of
Sin yield the sinner
No
satisfaction. As our comforts,
So our confidences in the service
of
Sin will certainly fail us. Come and seek the
Lord, and thy
Hope in him shall not deceive thee. See what cruel work
War
makes. Whatever mischief is done, it is
Sin that does it. What
miseries men's sins bring
On them, even in this world!