---

This chapter is occupied with a denunciation of the sins of the princes and chief men in Israel, who are designated (in ver. 1) by "Ephraim," the principal tribe, and "Samaria," the principal city. Such men are ever most condemned in Scripture, because they have

(1) more opportunity of knowing God's will, and

(2) more influence over others (see Matthew 11:20-24).

A godless lad who has been brought up under Christian influence, and has seen the Christian life represented in his home, is more deserving of condemnation than the waif thrown up by the sea of irreligious life, who has been unblessed by teaching and prayer. The man successful in business or scholarship, the attractive and popular visitor, the gifted writer, the eldest in a family, the leader in policy, etc., have heavier responsibilities than others because they have nobler powers. The sins condemned here were

(1) drunkenness, which specially prevailed on the king's birthday (ver. 5) and at similar festivities;

(2) passion for idolatry and its licentious rites, the heart of the people being like the oven heated hot, and needing only the stirring of opportunity to burst into flame (vers. 4, 6, 7);

(3) refusal to believe in God's presence and watchfulness (ver. 2). These and other sins were the signs of moral decay, which were reflected in national disasters. Yet none of these were perceived by the infatuated people. (See Keil and Delitzsch in justification of the rendering "He knoweth it not" in both clauses.) Subject - Unnoticed signs of moral decay.

I. THAT MORAL DECAY HAS ASCERTAINABLE CAUSES. Exemplify from the sources of Israel's decadence.

1. Want of consideration. (Ver. 2; Isaiah 1:3; Haggai 1:5.) Every faculty fails after disuse; e.g. the eyeless fishes of lakes in dark caverns. Muscular and mental development or decay, by exercise or inertness. He who will not think of God, at last cannot think of him.

2. Association with evil. (Ver. 8.) Show the effects of unconscious influence in the formation of character. They must be jealously watchful over themselves who are necessarily associated with the godless. The companionship of books equally important. Sensuous or skeptical literature may emasculate character.

3. Forgetfulness of God. All are prone to this. Material life becomes increasingly aggressive in thought. The hurry of business, the whirl of society, lessen the frequency and intensity of prayer.

4. Self-indulgence. Israel gave way to drunkenness and the licorice of idolatry. It was the opportunity for gratifying the worst passions that made the worship of the groves so popular. Many begin by staining the imagination who end by defiling the life. Depict the ruin of the drunkard, who once perhaps was a leader in Christian and benevolent enterprise.

II. THAT MORAL DECAY HAS OBSERVABLE SYMPTOMS. "Strangers have devoured his strength." Egypt and Assyria had despoiled Israel, sometimes by exacting tribute, sometimes by violent attack (2 Kings 13:7; 2 Kings 16:9). Compare the condition of the Roman empire just before its ruin by the Goths. With Israel the losses were the direct result of leagues made, contrary to God's will, with idolatrous nations around; for they became thereby involved in their disputes and disasters. Still this was not perceived. These and other signs of wasting and decay were visible to the prophet, and seemed to him like grey hairs sprinkled here and there - the effects of declining age, the tokens of decay. Point out symptoms of spiritual decline in the soul.

1. Want of appetite for what is good. The house of God neglected, the old service forsaken, the infrequency and unreality of prayer, etc.

2. Want of sensibility to what is evil. Contentment with a lower standard for Christian life, flippancy in dealing with infidelity, indifference to acts and words which at one time would have raised a flush of shame, etc.

III. THAT MORAL DECAY HAS IRREVERSIBLE ISSUES. These grey hairs were the precursors of death. Israel would never be restored. The life was lived, was nearly over, and without hope of resurrection. Christ Jesus speaks of a time of probation given now which will not be given hereafter. He will do all that can be done even for a fruitless fig tree, but at last must say, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?"

IV. THAT MORAL DECAY MAKES IMPERCEPTIBLE ADVANCE. At first grey hairs are sprinkled here and there. How fast they multiply, though no one notices the change in each hair! When first noticed, an endeavor may be made by nostrums to disguise the fact; but the decay goes on. The march of old age, as he sprinkles his snows, is not really checked. If a man could persuade himself as well as others that he was still young, that would not prolong his life. But it is far easier to disguise from ourselves the signs of moral decay, and this has been done with fatal frequency. The old world, though often warned," knew not till the flood came and swept them all away." Samson betrayed the source of his strength and lost it; but when he rose against his foes as aforetime, "he wist not that the Lord was departed from him." King Saul was robbed of his means of defense and refreshment, but he still slept on (1 Samuel 26.). So Israel shut its eyes to the loss of strength and hope. Beware lest character be like the cliff, secretly honeycombed by the sea, until in an unexpected moment it falls in irreparable ruin.

CONCLUSION. Address the aged. There is a natural decay, which may be the precursor of destruction or the promise of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.).

1. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Eleazar said, "I will not do that which seems to be evil, lest I should spot my white head."

2. The hoary head is a call to repentance, if it be found in the way of wickedness. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." - A.R.

---

---

KJV: Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

WEB: Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize it.