Homilist Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field… — A deprivation that comes upon the people in consequence of their heinous iniquities. I. A DEPRIVATION OF BOTH MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL GOOD. 1. Of material good. (1) Health. Sin is inimical to the bodily health and vigour of men and nations; it insidiously saps the constitution. (2) Means of subsistence. Reference is to one of those droughts that occasionally occur in the East, and is ever one of the greatest calamities. How soon the Eternal can destroy our means of subsistence l 2. Of spiritual good. Their presumptuous guilt was as great as that of one who refused to obey the priest when giving judgment in the name of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 17:12). One of the greatest spiritual blessings of mankind is the strife and reproof of godly men. What a derivation for these to be taken away! II. A DEPRIVATION LEADING TO A TERRIBLE DOOM. 1. The destruction of both priests and people. The meaning is that no time, night or day, shall be free from the slaughter both of the priests and of the people. This was literally true of the Ten Tribes at this time. 2. The destruction of the social state. "And I will destroy thy mother." Who was the mother? The Israelitish state. And it was destroyed. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. |
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