An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 7 · Verse 9 – Verse 10
VER. 9.
Strangers have devoured his ſtrength, and he knoweth it not, yea gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
STrangers have devoured his ſtrength] By ſtrength we muſt underſtand, Ephraims rich and warlike power; and here we may ſee the poor ſhifts and ſtrength of carnal hearts; the Almighty is the ſtrength of the Saints,Humane ſtrength. ſuch a ſtrength is God that all the Devils in hell nor men on earth cannot take away from them; ſtrangers devoured the ſtrength of Ephraim, wicked men ſuch as were not in covenant with God, may rob the Saints of their outward ſupports and comforts, a good cauſe may miſcarry when thoſe which are the mannagers of it are reſted upon, and too much confidence is placed in them, we ſee how juſt it is with God to croſs and turn the deſigns of men againſt themſelves when they forſake God, and this is a great curſe to men, when wicked men are ſuffered to take away what we have and do enjoy in our eſtates and liberties; and metaphorically this may be applied to our ſpirituall ſtrength, we ſhould take ſpecial care that ſtrong luſts do not devour our ſtrength for God; and this is the reaſon of our flatneſs in duties; you many times complain of deadneſs in prayer; examine whether there be not ſome ſecret luſt which takes away your ſtrength: And is it a miſery for ſtrangers to devour the ſtrength of our bodies and eſtates? much more of our ſpirits. It follows.
And he knows it not.
The Note from hence is this,Obſer. That the hearts of wicked men do ſo ſtrongly work after their luſts, that although they meet with never ſo many difficulties in their way, yet they know them not. But in good they know every little difficulty they meet withal, and have repenting thoughts in them that ever they were ſo engaged in a good Cauſe; but in their own waies, the waies of their luſts they are not troubleſom to them. It follows.
Gray hairs are here and there upon him.
That is, Such miſeries as make them gray, there were at this time many troubles upon the ten Tribes,gray hairs often afflicted by the Aſſyrians plundering and ſpoiling of them: and it is no ſtrange thing to ſee men gray with very grief and ſorrow. Scaliger tells us, of a young man who through the extream trouble of his ſpirit, was turned all gray in one one night. How much more ſhould our ſpirits be affected with the miſeries of our times.
Gray hairs] That is, their miſeries were ſo long upon them, that made them gray, they were laſting ſorrows, they were old in ſin, and God made them old in miſeries and puniſhments for their ſins. Thus Germany hath been gray-headed for many yeers together, in reſpect of the length of their miſeries.
Gray hairs: that is, They have been a long time and might have gained more knowledge of me, and got large experiences of the goodneſs of my waies, yet they know me not, nor my waies; the whiter mens heads are, the blacker are their ſins many times; 'tis a moſt dreadful ſight to ſee a white head and an old ſinner. I have read of one Eleazer, Eleazerwhich would not do any thing which might ſeem to be evil, becauſe he would not ſpot his white head. Gray hairs ſhould be a ſtrong argument to move men to walk blameleſly in their lives.
Gray hairs: that is, They had many ſymtoms of their ruin and deſtruction upon them: As gray hairs ſhow that mens ends are near, men that are gray, and would not be thought to be old, wil pluck out their white hairs: but if there be gray hairs upon us, let us know, they are admonitions to us, and warnings of our ruin: Heb. 8. ult. There are many ſymtoms of a kingdoms gray hairs; I ſhall inſtance in ſome of them: As,
1. Oppreſſion in Courts of Juſtice, is a gray hair.
2. Idolatry and ſuperſtition in Gods Worſhip and Ordinances.
3. The ſecret curſe of God upon men and their eſtates.
4. The taking away of the valiant and righteous men out of the kingdom, is a ſad gray hair in that kingdom. Such a kingdom where theſe gray hairs are is in a dying condition, and happy were it for us if theſe gray hairs were not to be found amongſt us; we have lain a long time at the graves mouth, and yet many gray hairs do continue ſtill, and what God will do with us we know not; how covetous and ſelf-ſeeking are men in theſe daies, notwithſtanding Gods wrath burns ſo hot, threatning an utter deſolation of al? Had we not need therefore to prepare for a dying kingdom. It follows.
And he knows it not.
Doth not this ſpeak our condition likewiſe? Gray hairs are here and there and we know it not; how have the Mini-niſters of God forewarned us a long time ſince of theſe times? but we would not regard them, both they and their meſſage was ſlighted: this people was ſo ſtupified they knew not who it was that ſmote them, nor for what it was they were ſmitten.
VER. 10.
And the pride of Iſrael teſtifies to his face; and they do not return unto the Lord their God, nor ſeek Him for all this.
IN the fifth Chapter we opened the ſame words with theſe, only the ſcope of the place is different; they would not take notice of Gods hands, but braved it out in a proud way, and would not learn his meaning in the rod. Let us learn the contrary humility, to accept of the puniſhment of our iniquities, ſubmitting, and acknowledging that our father hath ſmitten us and ſpit in our face, (and yet they return not to me) Whence obſerve:
God expects we ſhould turn upon afflictions. Job, 33.16. Sealed Obſ. 1 their inſtruction. Chap. 36.10. Commands that they return, repentance forced by afflictions.
Afflictions, if not ſanctified, will never turn the heart. Obſ. 2
It is a great aggravation of mens ſins, not to turn under afflictions. Obſ. 3
Though when afflictions work repentance, yet repentance is ſeldom Obſ. 4 true, it will not oft times hold out the trying; yet people ſhould try and ſee what it will do: repentance coming from afflictions hath a promiſe: Levit. 26.14. If then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, if then even when my hand is upon them, they accept of the puniſhment of their iniquities: then will I remember my Covenant with Jacob, and I will remember the Land.
True repentance is rather a ſeeking of Gods face, than our Obſ. 5 own eaſe from afflictions.