Hosea 2:8-9 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.… This was God's charge against His ancient people, a very heavy charge. They were unmindful of their benefactor. The thanks which they owed to Him they paid to devils. This is human nature; it is what we still see continually. It is a great part of religion to see God's hand in everything, to trace every instance of protection to His providence, of deliverance to His care, every good gift to His love. The Bible refers everything either directly or indirectly to God. I. GOD IS CONSTANTLY REPRESENTED AS THE AUTHOR AND GIVER OF ALL GOOD THINGS (by Jeremiah 5:21-23). God is declared to be the author of all the fruitfulness and plenty which are so beautifully described in Psalm 65. Take St. Paul's words to the people at Lystra, or Moses' last charge to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 8:11-20). In these passages we have the rain, the harvest, the fruitfulness of the fields and the increase of the cattle, preservation in danger, support in want, power to get wealth, daily protection, the gift of children — all ascribed to God. II. EXAMPLES OF GOOD MEN OF OLD, WHO REFERRED EVERY BLESSING THEY ENJOYED TO GOD. Abraham's servant, Jacob, Psalmists, etc. These men had an abiding sense of God's interference in all their concerns. They looked beyond second causes, and fixed their thoughts at once upon the great First Cause. One feels how different from theirs is the way of speaking common among ourselves. We cannot, indeed, prudently use the name of God as freely as they did. But we may err with undue reticence. If God's name is seldom in our mouths, there is reason to fear it is seldom in our hearts. It were well that God's name were more frequently introduced, so it were done with reverence, when we speak of the good gifts which we enjoy. The fixed habit of ascribing all our blessings to God would — 1. Be the surest way to secure the continuance of God's mercies, and to draw down more. 2. It would keep our faith in exercise. It would enable us to realise God's presence as our friend and benefactor. It would bring us into sensible communion with God daily. It would draw out our love to Christ. Seeing God in all things helps to make the sunshine of life. To be forward in recognising God's hand, and blessing Him for His good gifts, is an excellent help to diligence and zeal in God's service. It only remains that we each press home upon ourselves this blessed duty; and especially that we make sure of our interest in the greatest of all God's gifts, the gift of His dear Son. (C. A. Hewitley, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. |
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