Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. As in the days before the flood, God's Spirit does "not always strive with man": even long-suffering itself has been exhausted, and the despisers and mockers have been either suddenly destroyed, or given over to impenitence and insensibility. The precise period, or closing of what has been called "the day of grace," being mercifully concealed from man, its existence can form no rule or guide for his procedure. I. THE SIN OF EPHRAIM. "Joined to idols." Idolatry is represented in Scripture as being twofold; it is both outward and inward, public and retired. It does not consist chiefly in acts of religious homage. There are idols in the heart, the family, the Church. Loving and serving the creature more than the Creator is idolatry. It is a present and existing evil, and a prevailing, constitutional, besetting, and most abhorrent sin. It falls in easily with our inbred and corrupt propensities. II. THE JUDGMENT UPON EPHRAIM. The punishment of his crime. The text is an admonition to Judah not to hold any familiar intercourse with idolatrous and backsliding Israel. We, however, regard it as a sentence of dereliction. "Let him alone." The phrase is elliptical. It is addressed to some one, but we do not know to whom. May be angels, providences, ministers of the sanctuary, conscience, ordinances. We may therefore wisely pray, "Say anything of or to Thy servant, rather than let him alone." (W. B. Williams, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. |
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