An Exposition of Hosea 11-13, Exposition · Chapter 11 · Verse 12
VER. 12.
Ephraim compaſſeth me about with lyes, and the houſe of Iſrael with deceit.
THe Lord having manifeſted the bowele of his tender compaſſion towards Ephraim, (the ten Tribes) he Cohaerance.comes further to ſhew what was that, that ſtopt the way and courſe of his grace, of the grace that otherwiſe might have been let out unto them. Ephraim compaſſeth me about with lyes.
Beſets me with lyes, that's the word, be beſets me round; I am in reſpect of the ſin of Ephraim, (that is, of the Governors, foreignand of the [houſe of Iſrael] that is the People) I Expoſ. general.am (as it were) a man beſet round. As a men that would have a paſſage ſuch a way, he goes one way and there he is ſtopt; and another way and there he is ſtopt: ſo God compares himſelf to ſuch a man, as if he would be going on in the waies of mercy, & there he is ſtop… in one co… of ſin or another, and going on in another way, there … is ſtopt again.
Ephraim hath beſet me with lyes, that is, with falſe wor Particular.ſhip, (for that's a lye) with Pretences, they put fair Gloſſes upon things but all are but lyes, he hath beſet me with politick ſhifts of his own.
Theſe did beſet God, yea, and beſet the Prophet too, Expoſ. 2.for ſo I find ſome turn it, they think it's ſpoken as in the perſon of the Prophet, the Prophet complaining that he was beſet with lies, that they might prejudice his Miniſtry, that they might do what they could to take off the power of his Miniſtry in their hearts, they beſet him with lyes, with falſe reports of this and the other thing. Upon which one hath that Note. A faithful Divine, a Theologus fidelis nihil aliud eſt, quàm Centrum, ad quod omnes line… dolorum tendunt. MeiſnerPreacher, is nothing elſe but as it were a Center to which all lyes of falſehood do tend, they all go that way, 'tis a great plot of the Devil to draw his lines, and to let them make the Miniſters of God (that God uſes as any Inſtruments of good unto his people) to be as the Center of them all. Thus Meiſnerus in his Comment upon the place.
But I rather take it as ſpoken in the Name and Perſon of God; Beſet me with lyes, (i. e.) They do not only ſeek The meaningto blind men, but they would do what they could (if it were poſſible) to deceive me, ſaith God. And indeed when men ſeek to blind their own conſciences, what do they but ſeek what they can (if it were poſſible) to deceive God. In the very act of Worſhip (ſaith God) they are falſe, they do profeſs, honor and ſervice to God, but they lye unto him, even when they are worſhiping of Him. Many in their prayers, in the ſolemn act of Worſhip, they beſet God with lyes.
Oh! how do many come into the preſence of God Obſ. 1.when they are worſhiping of him, and there profeſs to God the acknowledgment of his Greatneſs, his Glory, his Majeſty, his Power, his Sovereignity, his Dominion over them, and profeſs a great deal of the fear of the Name of God! and yet God knows it is not in their hearts, it is but as a lye to God; when they are worſhiping God there they acknowledg their ſin, and judg themſelves for their ſin, as if they were very much humbled, and troubled for their ſin; but God knows that this is but a lye to him, there is no ſuch humiliation of their hearts before him as ſeems to be in their expreſſions before God; eſpecially when they are in company they cry to God for grace, and would fain above all things in the world have his Grace, but God knows 'tis but a lye, all their prayers are even beſetting God with lyes.
Oh! Conſider how far any of you have been guilty of this, eſpecially in praying with others, according to that Uſe.Scripture, Pſal. 78. 36. They flattered him with their mouth, and lyed unto him with their tongue. The word that is tranſlated flattered, it ſignifies deceived, They deceived him with their mouth.foreign
Why, Can God be deceived?Queſt. Anſw.
No; But they did what lay in them to deceive him, if it were poſſible that he ſhould be deceived they would deceive God. No mervail though men do deceive men ſo much as they do; many that are of upright hearts they wonder when they hear of the falſneſs of mens ſpirits that they can be ſo. No mervail (I ſay) when as God himſelf complains of being deceived by them, that is, They are ſo falſe, and do ſo beſet God with lyes, that if it were poſſible he himſelf ſhould be deceived. That's the firſt Note.
And then Secondly, As it was here with this people beſetting God with lyes, Thus many do compaſs and beſet Obſ. 2.buſineſſes, the buſineſſes and affairs that they mannage they beſet them with lyes, that's thus, They plot with themſelves how they may handſomly contrive a company of lyes together, by a handſom putting of them together, that ſo they may beſet mens unſterſtandings; there is ſuch a cunning abroad in the world (I ſay) to ſeek to beſet the underſtandings of men, ſo as men ſhall not know what to ſay to things, and yet they cannot tel how to beleeve them, neither do they know what to ſay, things are ſo contriv'd, and ſo ſet, they think with themſelves, If ſuch a thing ſhall be queſtioned, then I have ſuch a ſhift Let deceitful men note.to put it off; and if another thing ſhal be doubted of, then I have ſuch a report to make it good, ſome fair pretence or other: And thus they beſet buſineſſes with lyes, and beſet mens underſtandings. But Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints.
This of Judahs ruling with God, Luther, Meiſnerus, Expoſ. 1.and others, do think that it hath reference unto the ſtory that you find in 2 King. 18. the ſtory of Hezekiah, of the great Reformation that he made: Truly if it ſhould be ſo, then it appears that this people had continued very long in beſetting God, and his Prophet with lyes, for then the Prophet had been threeſcore years and ten a Prophet to this People, and had been ſhewing to them their ſin above ſeventy years; for from the time of Hoſea's propheſie, The time between Hoſea the Prophet, and King Hezekiah.unto the begining of Hezekiah's reign, it will appear to be above threeſcore and ten years, and ſtil the Prophet is complaining of this people, at that time when Judah did thus rule with God, That they ſtill continued beſetting God with lyes.
I would only note this Obſervation from it;Obſ.
That when men maintain their way by ſhifts, and falſneſs, if they be once engaged in falſneſs, and ſhifts and lyes, they grow pertinacious then, there's little hope of their recovery, then let what will be ſaid againſt them, let Gods hand never ſo much appear, let the Truths be never ſo cleer before them, they go on pertinaciouſly when they are engaged in ſuch a way as that.
But for the words themſelves,
Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints.
That's thus, Iſrael, the ten Tribes were not encouraged by her ſiſter Judahs example, for Judah did otherwiſe, Expoſ. 2.though the ten Tribes they did beſet God with lyes thus, their worſhip was all falſe, and nothing but a lye: yet Judah continued ſtill in the true Worſhip of God.
Though examples of evil in others are no excuſes, yet where Obſ 1.there is no ſuch temptation, the ſin is ſo much the greater. That's the Note from it. If indeed Iſrael could have ſaid thus, You indeed complain of our falſe worſhip, Who doth otherwiſe? Doth not Judah do ſo aſwel as we? do not they follow the ſame courſe aſwel as we? we took our example from them. No, Iſrael could not ſay ſo, this would not have wholly excuſed, but it might ſomewhat have leſſened, evil examples do ſomewhat leſſen, but not excuſe wholly. Yet when there is no examples at all, but men take up evil of themſelves, and are rather examples to others: this is a great aggravation of their ſin. Again, Note, That,
To continue in a falſe way of Worſhip when there is a right Obſ. 2.way held forth by others, this makes the ſin the greater. It's true, if we could ſay, we have been all our daies brought up in this way, we never knew no better, we ſaw none that held forth any other to us; this might have been ſomewhat. But they could not ſay ſo, for Judah yet ruled with God, Judah held forth the right way of Worſhip according to the mind of God, and therefore the ſin of Iſrael is here aggravated.
Thirdly, Yet Judah rules with the Saints. It was more to the commendations of Judah to continue in the true Obſ. 3.worſhip, after Iſrael (the ten Tribes) had broken off; for they were the ten Tribes, they were more in number, they were a more flouriſhing Kingdom a great deal than Judah was, yet for Iudah to hold on in the right Worſhip of God, when ſo many fel off from it, and when a more flo… riſhing Kingdom than Judah was, had continued ſo many years in falſe worſhip, this was a great commendations. Indeed there is a great temptation in this, when we ſee a multitude go another way; the Devil prevails much to draw mens hearts to that way; But the ſtronger the temptation is, the greater is the commendations of thoſe that ſhall ſtand out; what though they be but a few, what though they ſee others for the preſent ſeem to proſper, yet if thou canſt hold on in the way of truth, in the way of Gods Worſhip according to his Word, God looks upon this as a thing very pleaſing to him; it is a very great commendations to thoſe that do thus, and God takes it kindly from them: yet Judah doth thus, whatſoever Iſrael doth.
There were many evils, and that very groſs in Judah, but yet ſaith the Prophet Hoſea here, Judah ruleth with God. Why? for the Prophet Hoſea he was a Prophet to Judah, he was not ſent to Judah to enveigh againſt Judah, but to the ten Tribes; and therefore though there were many evils in Judah, he takes not ſo much notice of their evils, as of the evils of the ten Tribes. From whence the Note is this,
That we ſhould be more ſevere to thoſe that are neereſt to us Obſ. 4.when they diſhonor God, than to others that we have not ſo much to do withal; as now; A Miniſter he is not ſo much to enveigh Miniſters]againſt thoſe that God hath not ſet him over, that doth not belong to his charge, but if there be any evil in thoſe that belongs to his charge there he ſhould deal more plainly; and ſo for others, you are not ſo much to meddle with other men that do not concern you, as Maſters of Families.with your own familie, thoſe that are under your charge. It's true, we ſhould not ſee God diſhonored, but we ſhould Al men ſhold ſhew zeal for God.ſome way or other (as God calls us to it) teſtifie for him; but the main thing that we ſhould look to, it is, To thoſe that are under our charge; many are very indulgent towards thoſe that are under their charge, and very buſie and bitter againſt others.
Again, Judah ruleth with God.
Hierom upon this place tells of a Tradition that the Jews have here about Judahs rule, and it is this, faith Jerom in loc.he, When the people came out of Egypt, and Pharaoh purſued them, and the red Sea was before them, the Mountains on either ſide, they were mightily terrified, yet God bad Moſes bid them go on, the people thought with themſelves, whither ſhall we go? and ſo were afraid. Now Judah had a ſpirit (ſay they) beyond the reſt, and was the firſt Tribe that ventured to go into the Sea, and from thence obtain'd to be the principal Tribe: This is but their Tradition.
But here the meaning is, Judah yet ruleth with God, that is, the Kingdom of Judah yet continued according to Expoſ.Gods mind in the houſe of David, and maintained the true Worſhip, and ſo ruled with God. There are divers excellent Notes further from hence:
Firſt, That which men enjoy with God, though it be but a little, it is better than to enjoy much, and not with God; as Obſ. 1.thus; The Kindom of Judah was but ſmal in reſpect of the Kindom of Iſrael; yea, but Judah rules with God: To have a little with God, it's a great deal better than to have a great deal without God. As here in a Kingdom, Few regard this.ſo in an Eſtate, Haſt thou a little Eſtate, yea, but haſt thou it with God? Oh! it's a great deal better than to have a great Eſtate? and have much guiltineſs with it, and not to have it with God; Iſrael maintained their Rule by ſhifts, and that's a great evil; Though thou haſt thy deſires, yet if thou getteſt them, and doeſt maintain them by ſhifting courſes, that's a ſore and a great evil, thou Shifts.canſt have little comfort in the enjoyment of thy deſires; for this is the meaning of the Prophet, as if he ſhould ſay, Iſrael rules, but how did they get and maintain their rule? it was in falſe, ſinful waies: It may be thou haſt thy will over thy brother, yea, but thou haſt it in a ſinful way, thou bleſſeſt thy ſelf in that thou haſt thy will, but thou haſt little cauſe if thou kneweſt all. Iſrael did not rule with God.
Luther upon the place, ſaith, Papiſt, dare not venture to i… the true Doctrine, for fear their Rule ſhould Luther in lo…be loſt; ſo 'tis in many people, they are afraid of the loſs of their Rule, if they ſhould entertain the true waies of Gods Worſhip, they think that the true waies of Gods Worſhip cannot ſtand with their Ruling, and Power, and Why ſome decline the waies of Godtherefore they had rather have their Rule, and Power, and let the true Worſhip of God go. Thus it was with Iſrael.
Or thus: Judah yet rules with God; That is, Judah continuing in a right way of Worſhip, and doth ſo reform Expoſ. 2.as he rules in an honorable condition, Judah rules with God, Judah reforming as he doth, why Judah rules with God, is, in an honorable condition.
To ſerve God is to Reign the Kingdom that ſerves God, Obſ.reigns indeed, yea, that man or woman that ſerves God, reigns. It's an honorable thing to ſerve God; the Lord Chriſt hath made us Kings unto his Father, becauſe the Revel. 1. 6. illuſtrated.ſervice of God is ſo honorable.
Judah rules with God. This ſaies Meiſnerus, and others, hath reference to Hezekiahs notable Reformation, and Victory thereupon over the Aſſyrians, of which 2 King. 18. &c.
The old Latin hath it▪ they tranſlate Ruling with Teſtis deſcendit cum Deo. vulgGod, thus: He doth deſcend, or come down as a witneſs with God, ſo they render it. And indeed the difference, though it may ſeem to be very much in our Engliſh tongue, yet in the Hebrew the letters that are for ruling with God, adhuc foreign teſtis foreign à foreign damnatus eſt foreign deſcendit foreign Riberain loc.and for coming down to be a witneſs for God, there is very little difference, it is in the pointing, not in the Hebrew letters.
Ribera maintains this reading, and hath theſe two meditations hinted from that reading: firſt, others they leave the true Worſhip of God, but Judah continues, and ſo witneſſes for God.
God hath never been without ſome witneſſe to his Truth. Obſ. 1.And in evil times when others do forſake God, and his worſhip, then for people to be willing to venture, and appear any way to witneſs for God is a very honorable thing; Oh! 'tis a bleſſed thing to be a witneſs to the Truth, therefore was I born ſaith Chriſt, that I might bare witneſs to the truth, for thoſe that are faithful and upright in evil times they are Gods witneſſes. That's his firſt Note.
And then Secondly, He deſcends, that is, he is content to be in a lower condition ſo be it he may witneſs for Obſ. 2.God, though Iſrael be in a more flouriſhing condition, and we be kept low, it's no great … ſo be it we may be Gods Witneſſes, thus doth a gracious heart, I indeed ſee others in the world, they are brave, and have the countenance of the times, and have all things according to the deſires of the fleſh here, but we are kept low, it's no matter, ſo be it we may but witneſs for God, let others take the outward glory and bravery of the world, let us be witneſſes with our God. It follow…. And is faithful with the Saints.Text.
He is faithful, that is, he continues in the right Government God would have him, and in his true Worſhip.
To forſake the true Worſhip and Government God hath appointed, Obſ. 1is unfaithfulneſs. And cleaving to it …lly through much difficulties and ſuffering is a ſpecial p… of faithfulneſs; 'tis an evil not to be … with the State in Civil …, but not to be … with God in matters of Religion is a greater evil.
Again, God hath a … to a S… faithfulneſs with Obſ. 2.him in point of Worſhip; though there may be many evils otherwiſe, yet if they be … …o him in point of Worſhip, God hath a ſpecial eye to that.
Laſtly, … in good, Obſ. 3.it is not faithfulneſs only to profeſs good, but to continue in our profeſſion. Judah is faithful with the Saints. I Expoſ. 1find divers learned men to take this to be an E…ll age of the number, and reade for, with the Saints, with the Holy One, for we may find ſuch examples in Scripture that the Holy ones for the Holy Oneplural number is uſed ſometimes for the ſingular, as I'le give you an inſtance in this very word, how the Saints, is uſed for the Holy One; for God himſelf, in Joſhua, 24. 19. For be is a Holy God. The word that is tranſlated Holy there, is in the plural number, as here, and yet it muſt be underſtood and read in the ſingular, He is a holy God, and ſo faithful with the holy God, ſo ſome reade it.
But to take it as you find it in your books, Faithful Expoſ. 2. 1.with the Saints, that is, with Abraham, Iſaac, and with Jacob, with Moſes, with the Prophets, with the Forefathers, he doth continue faithful with them.
Or Secondly, Faithful with ſuch as are ſanctified; the 2.true Prieſts of God, that God had ſanctified to himſelf, faithful with the Sanctified Ones: whereas Jeroboam took off the lower ſort of the people and made Prieſts to God, Judah he would have no other Prieſts, but the Sanctified Ones of God.
Thirdly, He … faithful with the people of God; for all 3.of Iſrael that were holy, that were godly, that were the Saints, that were not detain'd by ſome ſpecial hand of God, as much as they could they went from the ten Tribes, and went to Judah to the true Worſhip of God, now Judah entertain'd them, and uſed them well, and were faithful to them; But on the contrary, Iſrael, the ten Tribes they were unfaithful, by uſing the Saints of God evilly, that would worſhip God according to Gods own way, they were cruel, and oppreſſing, and unfaithful to them, but Judah was faithful towards ſuch, imbracing and encouraging of them. For us to go on in faithfulneſs, though we have none to joyn with, it is a commendation, and the waies of God are excellent whether any or no do joyn with us in them. But it is a great encouragement to be faithful with the Saints, that is, to go on in thoſe waies that we ſee the Saints go on in, and …o joyn with the Saints of God, with ſuch as are the choice Saints of God, to joyn with them, that's a great …ncouragement, it ſtrengthens the people of God in their way very much, Faithful with the Saints; Oh! 'tis good to be with the Saints, to be with a few of the Saints, a great deal better than to be with abundance of the men of the world.
Judah is faithful with the Saints. You ſhould look more at the example of a few Saints, than at the examples Obſ.of thouſands of wicked men, yea of carnal men, of looſe and carnal profeſſors; It's true, the example of no man is to be a rule, but it is a mighty encouragement, and hath much probability in it, when the moſt gracious A Cautionand holy Saints are in ſuch or ſuch a way. And thus much for the opening of this Eleventh Chapter.