Israel's arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them. Sermons
I. BY THINKING ON CERTAIN SUBJECTS. We ever act from motives when we act as men. But what are motives? The creation of our own thoughts. The man who centers his thoughts on the advantages of wealth, or fame, or knowledge, turns to their pursuit. His thoughts excite his feelings, and his feelings urge him to a resolution. But what are the subjects which thought must dwell on in order that we may move religiously? If I am to repent I must think of my sins in relation to the character of the holy God and the self-sacrificing Christ. It is only as I muse that the fires of penitence will burn. If I am to believe, I must think upon the object who alone has the attributes to command my highest confidence and unbounded trust. If I am to love supremely, I must meditate on the perfections of him who is supremely good. In fact, if a man is to turn to any new course of conduct, he must have new motives; and if he is to have new motives, he must have new thoughts. "I thought of my ways, I turned my feet unto thy statutes." Thought is the rudder of the soul; as it is turned, the vessel takes the direction. II. By thinking on certain subjects IN A CERTAIN WAY. There is a way to think. You may think on the most serious subjects in such a way as to produce profanity and mirth. How must you think, then, on these subjects? 1. With concentration. The whole thinking force of the soul must be centered on them. The most solemn of them, taken up lightly and dispatched with a reflection or two, will not produce the result. if you would bring the beams of the sun into a scorching flame, you must draw them to a focus. And if you would make the great truths of religion kindle repentance within you, you must focalize them by a process of intense thinking. 2. With persistency. It is not enough to bend even the whole force of the mind upon them now and then at distant intervals; it must be done consecutively. They must be kept constantly before the mind as objects in its horizon so grand and solemn that all else shall seem trifling and contemptible. 3. With devotion. God must be brought to them. His presence and aid must be invoked. III. By thinking on certain subjects WITH A PRACTICAL INTENT. TO think upon religious subjects in order to increase our theological knowledge or to make our feelings glow for a time with a religious sentiment would be of little service; but to think in order to translate the thought into action, to embody the idea in the life - this is the way. They must be thought upon in order to answer the question, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" CONCLUSION. "This is the way; walk ye in it." Think. Thoughtlessness is the curse of humanity. Think on right subjects; wrong subjects will do you harm. Think on right subjects in a right way; thinking on right subjects in a wrong way must prove disastrous. Think on right subjects with a practical intent, not for speculation nor sentimentalizing, but for action - real, living, godly action. Thus frame your doings, and "turn unto the Lord." Think, brethren, think; there is nothing like noble thoughts. "It is a grand thing when, in the stillness of the soul, thought bursts into flame, and the intuitive vision comes like inspiration; when breathing thoughts clothe themselves in burning words, winged as it were with lightning; or when a great law of the universe reveals itself to the mind of genius, and, where all was darkness, his single word bids light be, and all is order where chaos and confusion were. Or when the truths of human nature shape themselves forth in the creative fancies of one life, the million-minded poet, and you recognize the rare power of heart which sympathizes with and can reproduce all that is found in man" (F.W. Robertson). - D.T.
And the pride of Israel doth testify to His face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity. Tiglath pileser died in B.C. 727, and was succeeded by Shalmaneser IV. The refusal of Hoshea to continue the annual tribute brought the new Assyrian monarch into the West. Tyre was besieged unsuccessfully, Hoshea carried away captive, and Samaria blockaded for three years. During the blockade Shalmaneser died, and the crown was seized by one of the Assyrian generals. The latter assumed the name of Sargon, in memory of the famous Babylonian monarch who had reigned so many centuries before. The capture of Samaria took place in his first year ( B.C. 722); 27,280 of its inhabitants were sent into exile, but only fifty chariots were found in the city. An Assyrian governor was appointed over it, who was commissioned to send each year to Nineveh the same tribute as that paid by Hoshea. The comparatively small number of Israelites who were carried into captivity shows that Sargon contented himself with removing only those persons and their families who had taken part in the revolt against him; in fact, Samaria was treated pretty much as Jerusalem was by Nebuchadnezzar in the time of Jehoiachin. The greater part of the old population was allowed to remain in its native land. This fact disposes of the modern theories which assume that the whole of the Ten Tribes were carried away.(Prof. Sayce.) 2. As pride is a sin that will not conceal itself, so this sort of pride is a notorious proof of men's guiltiness which will justly condemn them, and plead for God in so doing. 3. Sin will certainly bring on ruin, especially when men are not only obstinate in it, but swelled with pride for all that. 4. God's judgments will be universal on all ranks, according as they have sinned. (George Hutcheson.) ( John Calvin.) People Benjamin, Hosea, Israelites, JarebPlaces Assyria, Beth-aven, Gibeah, Mizpah, Ramah, TaborTopics Arrogance, Ephraim, E'phraim, Excellency, Face, Fall, Gives, Guilt, Humbled, Iniquity, Israelites, Israel's, Judah, Moreover, Pride, Sin, Sins, Stumble, Stumbled, Stumbles, Testifies, Testify, TheirsOutline 1. The judgments of God are denounced against the priests, people, and princes, 9. both of Israel and Judah, for their manifold sins. 15. An intimation is given of mercy on their repentance. Dictionary of Bible Themes Hosea 5:5Library 'Physicians of no Value''When Ephralm saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither shall he cure you of your wound.'--HOSEA v. 13 (R.V.). The long tragedy which ended in the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyrian invasion was already beginning to develop in Hosea's time. The mistaken politics of the kings of Israel led them to seek an ally where they should have dreaded an enemy. As Hosea puts it in figurative fashion, Ephraim's … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture An Obscured vision The Call and Feast of Levi That None Should Enter on a Place of Government who Practise not in Life what they have Learnt by Study. Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah. Ripe for Gathering Meditations for the Sick. Of Civil Government. That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful. The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted. Hosea Links Hosea 5:5 NIVHosea 5:5 NLT Hosea 5:5 ESV Hosea 5:5 NASB Hosea 5:5 KJV Hosea 5:5 Bible Apps Hosea 5:5 Parallel Hosea 5:5 Biblia Paralela Hosea 5:5 Chinese Bible Hosea 5:5 French Bible Hosea 5:5 German Bible Hosea 5:5 Commentaries Bible Hub |