An Exposition of Hosea 8-10, Exposition · Chapter 9 · Verse 4
VER. 4.
They ſhall not offer Wine-offerings to the Lord; neither ſhal they be pleaſing unto him.
THE Prophet in the Name of God proceeds to further threatning of Iſrael; and this in the 4th verſe is a very dreadful one: They ſhall not offer Wine offerings to the Lord; Wine and Oyl in ſacrifice, what it ſignified.neither ſhall they be pleaſing unto him.
In their offerings there was wont to be Wine and Oyl; to note cheerfulneſs in Gods ſervice: thus in Numb. 15. 5. The fourth part of an Hyn of Wine for a drink offering ſhalt thou prepare, and for a meat offering thou ſhalt prepare two deals of flowr mingled with the third part of an hyn of Oyl. But now al joy ſhal be taken away, there ſhal be nothing but ſadnes and ſinking of ſpirit under their miſery, no Wine offering.
Hence note, Obſ. 1.That, thoſe who abuſe their joy to their luſts when they have it, it's juſt with God it ſhould be taken from them, that they ſhould have none to give to God though they would never ſo fain.
Secondly,Obſ. 2. This makes an affliction to be bitter and grievous indeed, That all joy and comfort in Gods ſervice is gone; for that's the ſcope, They ſhall offer no Wine offerings, all their joy in the ſervice of God ſhall be gone; they ſhall not only have ſorrow in their outward afflictions that are upon them, but every time they come to think of any ſervice of God their hearts ſhall be dejected, all their joy in the ſervice of God ſhall be taken away: there was a time when ſome of you were wont to offer Wine offerings to the Lord, that is, to have much joy and comfort in the ſervice of God, but is not all gone? where's your Wine offerings to the Lord? you can now perform duties, but your hearts are heavy and dul in the performance of them, there's no ſweetneſs, there's no enlargement of ſpirit in holy duties, all the Worſhip of God is a burden now unto you. Now there is no burden of affliction ſo great a burden as when the duties of Gods Worſhip comes to be a burden. The Saints, ſo long as they have a Wine offering for the Lord in holy duties, ſo long as their ſpirits in holy duties can be free and joyful, their afflictions are not very burdenſom, they are well enough, this is more delightful to them than all the Wine in the world, for they can ſay of Gods love, They love is better than Wine; ſo they can ſay of their love to God again, That our love unto him is more comfortable to us than any Wine in the world; Now though they be in afflictions, their eſtates are gone, that they have no Wine to drink themſelves, yet they have a Wine offering to offer unto the Lord. It's no great matter though we have not Wine as we were wont to have at our Tables, but when we go to worſhip God, we have a Wine offering for him at any time; and this makes glad the hearts of the Saints more than the hearts of all the men in the world can be glad when their Corn, and Wine, and Oyl encreaſes.
They ſhall offer no Wine offerings; neither ſhall they be pleaſing unto him; they ſhall not be ſweet to him, whatſoever their offerings be. Now that they offer to the Lord, God will take no delight in them, they will be but ſowre things unto the palate of God, the offerings of the Saints in Gods way they do cheer the very heart of God; And hence is the reaſon of that phraſe that we have,Iudg. 9. 13 enlightned▪ That Wine doth cheer the heart of God and man, it cheer'd Gods heart to have offerings offered in a holy manner to him, the greateſt joy that God hath in the world is in the offerings of the Saints, which ſhould be the greateſt encouragement to them; men by their Wine and good Cheer may make themſelves merry, may make their friends merry, but by their holy offerings they do cheer the heart of God, they are as ſweet-meats to God, all the Wine and delightful things in the world they are as ſweet (I ſay) to God, as all the Wine and delightful things in the world are for men. Thou haſt a cup of Wine for thy friend to cheer him, but haſt thou a cup of Wine for God to cheer his heart? that is a gracious holy offering unto God: Surely that which is moſt ſweet to the Soul of God ſhould be moſt ſweet to our ſouls:Duties of Religion, a Saints recreation. You would wonder to hear a man ſay that he takes as much delight, and he can recreate himſelf as much in reading, in praying, in hearing Sermons, in holy conference as you can do in all your good cheer, in playing and drinking of Wine in bowls; you think that men are mad to ſay, that they have as much pleaſure in thoſe things, as playing at Cards, and merriment, and muſick, and good cheer: you call upon them to play at Cards with you, or be merry, you ſay to them, why ſhould you be dumpiſh and never be merry? they tell you again, That they can be as merry and as cheerful in hearing the Word, and praying, and reading, as you in all your playing, and all that that you account delightful. You ſay to them, That they have no recreation. They tell you, That thoſe things that are your burdens, are their recreation; you think it ſtrange. Why ſhould you wonder? Surely that that ſweetens and joyes the heart of God, that muſt needs be the rejoycing of the hearts of thoſe that have the Spirit of God in them; you have joy and mirth in ſuch and ſuch things; theſe are ſweet to you, yea, but do theſe things rejoyce God, are they ſweet to God?
But now, this is the threatning here, They ſhall not be ſweet now to him: nothing that is tendered to God from them ſhall be pleaſing to him; no ſaith God, now I will have other waies to glorifie my ſelf in upon you, not by your offerings, I'le rather glorifie my ſelf in your miſeries, and they ſhall be ſweet and delightful to me. If an Hypocri…e hath never ſo great enlargements in duties, theſe would not be pleaſing to God, Gods palate is more delicate than to taſt ſuch ſowre and ſapleſs things, than thoſe are that comes from them.Delicatares eſt ſpiritm ſanctus. Tert. Saith Tertullian, The Spirit of God is a moſt delicate thing, it hath a delicate palat, and ſuch ſwill that hath ſuch mixtures of filth as your ſervices have, how can they be ſweet to the delicate palat of the Spirit of God? you are Hypocrites, your lives are naught and filthy and unclean, therefore none of your offerings can be ſweet, they are but ſwill unto that palat of mine.
It follows.
Their ſacrifices ſhall be unto them as the bread of mourners.
The Hebrew may be taken ſubſtantively, or adjectively, as thus: For the bread of mourning, or the bread of mourners, either of both two may be taken according to the original, Now by the bread of mourners is here meant unclean bread.
for ſo it is interpreted afterwards, It ſhall be unclean.
But why the bread of mourners unclean? This Text hath reference to what you reade in Numb. 19. 11. and 14.Num 19. 11. 14. verſes, you may reade there, that the dead body of a man it did defile whatſoever touch'd it, yea, whatſoever came neer it, and all thoſe that were at Funerals that did mourn for the dead, that came to the place where the dead body was, to mourn with the friends for the dead, they became unclean by the dead body:The dead carcaſs of a beaſt did not ſomuch defile, as the carcaſs of a dead man. And that's obſervable, that the dead body of a beaſt did not make men ſo unclean (by legal uncleanneſs) as the dead body of a man did. The dead body of a beaſt made one unclean but only till the evening, in Numb. 11. 31. but the dead body of a man made a man unclean ſeven daies. So you ſhall find in the former chap. of Numbers, that they muſt be ſeven daies before they could be clenſed;Numb. 11. 31. and this was to note: That there were more remarkable expreſſions of the anger of God upon the ſin of man in the dead body of a man,What this ſignified. than in the dead body of a beaſt;Why a dead body defiled. one made unclean but till evening, and the other ſeven daies. But the reaſon why there was this uncleanneſs from the dead body, was:
Firſt, To note the uncleanneſs that there is in ſin, in dead works, that thoſe that did meddle with them they were polluted, yea, the uncleanneſs that there is in coming near unto ſinners; the coming but near to them, all that was in the tent was polluted.
Secondly,Funeral mournings▪ It was to ſhew, how little pleaſing to God Funeral mournings are, for they were made unclean by them: they were made unclean by their Funeral mournings, for this bread of mourners is the bread that they eat in their Funerals. The Gentils did mourn for their dead in an inordinate manner, exceedingly; and God would have a difference between his peoples mourning for the dead, and their mourning,Why, if imōderate; not pleaſing to God▪ becauſe that he would keep up his peopl… faith, and the hope of reſurection from the dead, whereas had they had liberty to mourn ſo exceſſively as the Heathens did, by this means the very faith and hope of reſurrection from the dead might in time even almoſt have been extinguiſhed, therefore God would have them take heed of that, and therefore he did ſo ordain in the Ceremonial Law,Why they were to be ſo long unclean that mourned for the dead. that al the mourners for the dead they ſhould be unclean for ſo long a time. As for any that doth give liberty in their natural affections, and doth not hold the reins of them in their mourning for the dead, I would apply to them that Scripture, in Jer. 31. 15, 16. Thus ſaith the Lord, A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping, RACHEL weeping for her CHILDREN, refuſed to be comforted for her children, becauſe they were not. But now, Thus ſaith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, thy work ſhall be rewarded, and thy children ſhall come back again. So it followed afterwards. Do not weep as others, let us not mourn as others that have no hope, remember that the mourners for the dead in the Law they were to be unclean for ſeven daies.
Thirdly, it was to note this, That God would have cheerfulneſs in his ſervice, and therefore the bread of mourners is accounted polluted.Levit. 10. 19. Levit. 10. 19. we reade of Aaron when there was ſuch an occaſion of mourning as ever was (almoſt for a man, for the death of his children that were ſo eminent in office, and were deſtroyed ſo with ſuch a viſible hand of God (fire from Heaven) when Moſes was angry that the Prieſts had not eat of the ſin offering, ſaith Aaron, If I had eaten of the ſin offering to day, enlightned▪ſhould it have been accepted? It would have been but as the bread of mourners. I that have bin ſtruck this day, and am in ſuch a dreadful condition, Would God have regarded the ſin offering? God required joy in his ſervices in Deut. 1…. 7. 18. verſes, and hence that profeſſion was required in Deut. 26. 13, 14. verſes, Then thou ſhalt ſay before the Lord thy God, Deut. 12. 7. 18.I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine houſe, Chap. 26. 13, 14.and alſo have given them unto the Levite, and unto the Stranger, to the Fatherleſs, and to the Widdow, according to all the Commandements which thou haſt commanded me, illuſtrated.I have not tranſgreſſed thy Commandements, neither have I forgotten them. And then in the 14. verſ. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning &c.
They were to profeſs this to God, That they had not eaten thereof in their mourning; this was to ſhew, that ſacrifices offered with a ſinking heart in ſorrow, is not pleaſing to God,Even ſorrow for ſin muſt not bumpiſh, God loves a cheerful giver. We muſt not pine away in our iniquities, ſullenneſs and dumpiſhneſs even in ſorrow for ſin it ſowres our ſpirits and ſervices, and makes them unacceptable to God; (I ſay) a ſullen, dumpiſhneſs of ſpirit, though it be in ſorrow for ſin, it ſowres our ſpirits and makes our ſervices unacceptable to God. There is a groaning and a ſighing one to another▪ or rather, againſt one another: that is condemn'd in Scripture in Jam. 5. 9. Iam. 5. 9. foreign.the words in your books are thus, Grudge nor one againſt another, but in the Original, Sigh not, or groan not one againſt another; you ſhall have many that in company with others have a penſive dumpiſh ſpirit, ſighing and groaning,A cheerful ſpirit in company. and making their ſociety to be burdenſom to others. Saith the holy Ghoſt, do not ſigh and groan one unto another, there is a ſullen dumpiſh ſighing of ſpirit and dejection of ſoul that is as unpleaſing to God as it is unto men, it polutes the heart, and pollutes duty.
But (you will ſay) Is all mourning forbidden? that here the holy Ghoſt ſhould ſay, Their offerings ſhould be as the bread of Mourners. Chriſt ſaith, bleſſed are the Mourners, and the Sacrifice of God is a contrite heart.
It's true, an evangelical ſorrow is accepted, but that hath ſweetneſs in it, it is not bitter, that's not a dejected ſpirit, it's not a mourning that cauſes dejection or ſullenneſs, or ſtraightneſs of ſpirit, but that mourning doth enlarge the heart and makes it active for God;Ezra. 9. 5. hence in Ezra, 9. 5. although we reade before that Ezra was aſtoniſhed at the ſin of the people, yet ſaith he, at the 5. verſe, I aroſe from my heavineſs at the evening ſacrifice, when the time came that I ſhould ſacrifice unto God my heavineſs did not hinder me in holy duties. But how many are there that ſink down in their heavineſs, and when God calls upon them for any duty, they cannot ariſe, they are ſo over-burdened with heavy ſpirits? There they ſink down in a ſullen way,much pride of times in dejection. as in Satan▪ and ſhall God accept of ſuch a ſervice as this is? You may pleaſe your ſelves in it and think it is humiliation, but there may be much pride in dejection; there is none ſo proud a ſpirit as the Devil is, and yet no ſpirit ſo dejected as the Devil is.ſimile▪ Lead we know it melts ſooneſt, but it conſumes in the melting: and many times there may be ſuch a ſpirit that may be ready to ſorrow upon any occaſion, and to melt, but it's ſuch a melting as conſumes the ſtrength of it that it is unfit for any ſervice that God calls for, now ſuch ſervices as you in ſuch a mourning way tender up to God are not accepted of him, Remember this text, Their offering ſhall be as the bread of mourning.
Gualter hath a Note from this: God would not accept of the offering of Mourners, they were unclean, yet (ſaith he) there are many that ſeek to get their greateſt gain from Funeral mournings, and fall of enveighing againſt them that get gain that way; as their Prieſts and Officers that uſe to tend upon Funerals for gain, he calls them Vultur… and Crows that do flock to dead bodies, and Sepulchers Dogs, (thoſe are his words) that ſeek to get advantage by Funerals.The gain of funer…ls formerly, made ſome rejoyce, whē others mourned. And we know heretofore what abundance of advantage there was gotten by Funerals, ſcarce could you bury a child under three or four pounds, ſuch kind of fees there were, and made them even rejoyce when others did mourn, and getting a great part of of their livelihood from the bread of Mourners.
And Theophylact hath another Note from this place, The bread of Mourners. Theophylact. in loc.That is, thoſe things offered to God gotten by oppreſſion, as thus; ſuppoſe a man or woman gets an eſtate, and gets it in an oppreſſing way, it may be they are at home and merry, but it may be the poor children or widdow is mourning for thoſe morſels that thou art rejoycing in, but it is the firſt Note that is the moſt according to the mind of the holy Ghoſt, the mourning that hath reſpect to the funerals, and ſo eſpecially at the dejection of ſpirit in holy duties. It follows,
The bread for their ſoul ſhall not come into the Houſe of the Lord.Expoſ. 1.
The bread for their ſoul.] That is; When they are ſeeking God even for their very lives. By Bread, is to be underſtood, their oblations more generally,Mal. 1. 7. not only Bread, but their Oblations, As Malac. 1. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine Altar: it's taken generally for all kind of offerings upon Gods Altar. So, The bread for their ſouls, that is, thoſe offerings that they did offer for their very lives.
Now from thence the Note is this:Obſerv. That it's a ſad thing when a creature would ſeek to God for his very life, yet then God rejects him and his offering too. Before theſe people they did reject the voice of the Lord at the Temple, and they kept others from going to the Houſe of the Lord, they thought ſacrifices elſewhere would ſerve the turn as well; but now they ſhall be far enough from bringing any ſactifices to the Houſe of the Lord though they ſhould deſire to do it for their very ſouls. Thus many who in the time of their proſperity do neglect the Worſhip of God and ſlight it, and think there is no great matter in it,Applicat. but afterwards when they ſee their very lives, their ſouls lie at the mercy of God, then they would fain ſeek God for their lives, they ſee they are undone if God be not merciful to them, yet then God rejects them, their offerings then for their ſouls ſhall not come into the Houſe of the Lord, that is; will not be accepted of God. When a man is crying for an Alms, but for a piece of bread, to be rejected is ſomething; but when a man is crying for his ſoul, then to be rejected, and by God himſelf, this is more grievous.
Secondly, The bread for their ſoul, that is, The bread they have to maintain their lives withal, if they would offer that to the Lord, it ſhould not come into the houſe of the Lord to be accepted;Soul put for Life. for by bread for their ſouls, may be meant, the bread that they have to maintain their lives, for ſo we find the Scripture cals the ſoul,Mat. 6. 24. foreign. the life of a man, in Mat. 6. 24. Is not the life more worth than meat? the words in the original are, Is not the Soul of man? It is here the bread for the ſoul, that is, the very bread that they have to maintain their lives, their neceſſary bread that they have to live on; although they ſhould be willing to offer that to the Lord, it ſhall not come unto him. Now this is as if the Prophet ſhould ſay to them,Expoſ. 2. Now you cannot be brought to them to offer your ſuperfluity to God, but your condition ſhall be ſuch as if you would offer the neceſſary bread you have to preſerve your lives, if you would offer that to God, God will not accept of it: As if a man were ſo poor that he were ready to ſtarve, and yet for all that ſuch a man would ſay, Wel, though I ſtarve, yet I wil offer this I have to live on, and I would offer this to God rather than have it my ſelf, now you would think this ſhould be an argument of a great deal of devotion. But the caſe ſhall be now, that though you would ſeek God with ſuch earneſtneſs, yet the heart of God ſhall be ſo hardened againſt you as they will not be accepted.
Thoſe who in time of proſperity are loth to deny their eaſe,Obſer. and loth to lay out any thing of their ſuperfluity for God, but time may come that though they ſhould be willing to bite off their very nails, and pluck out their eyes, and tear their very fleſh in indignation for their ſin in reſpect unto God any way, yet this God ſhall not vouchſafe to have regard unto.Uſe. Therefore this learn by it, to ſeek God while he may be found, and not to ſtand upon your own terms with God in the day of your proſperity, and to ſay, I cannot ſpare this and that for him; but if we deny God now what is his due, though we would give to him hereafter that that our lives lay upon, yet it ſhall not be accepted.
3. Bread for their ſouls: Expoſ. 3.that is, they ſhall have no more bread than will ſerve for their very life from hand to mouth, they ſhall have nothing to bring to the Houſe of the Lord, they ſhall be ſo put to it, when they are in captivity, they ſhall be kept ſo ſtrictly, as to have nothing but bread and water, nothing but from hand to mouth; they ſhall be far enough from having any thing to offer to the Lord, to be accepted of him; if they ſhould think of bringing any thing to the Houſe of the Lord, alas! what have they? nothing but a little bread for their ſoul.
From whence the Note is this, Obſer.To have no eſtate to offer to God in his ſervice, in the waies of his publick worſhip is a great affliction. It follows.