Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-01

the close of the reign of Jeroboan ii. In
Israel, whose reign closed u. G. 1872
(Beecher), or 763 1Iastings). His prophetic
life extended into the days of H,2ekiah,
king OF Judah, who came to the throne
CBeeCher). II. c. 13 Nilstings), 72l.
PIACE-lIosca was II prophet OF the
northern kingdom.
PROPIETS-lsaiah and Micah; pcrhaps
Amos.
What was the iniquity OF Israel
from which Hosea eXhorted her to re-
turn unto the Lord? The degradation
Of religion into a sensual and revolt
ing worship Of idols, and the foolish
and weakening separation from the
Southern Kingdom. The period was
n Of ~frightful violence and confu-
sion; all ties Of social life were
loosened; immortality. irrellgion, SUI
perstition, panic and despair contrib
uted to the common misery and ruin;
1t hardly needed prophetic insight to
foresee the inevitable end In the total
dissolution of the state.
Their reliance upon Assyria for sal
walton instead Of upon Jehovah; their
reliance upon Egypt, the land OF
horses: their reliance upon idols. the
work Of their own hands. All the In
ner woes Of the nation sprung from
Its idolatry, and all its woes from
without sprung from the mischlevous
foreign alliances against which the
prophets continually protested. Note
that this is more than a confession; 1t
10 a prnmiSn if ~n,1nlnnnt q vnyu nf
total abstinence from these sins.
God promises to the r%epentant ma
ton, promises for the past, forgive
ness. will heal their b~acksliding,
that horrible disease Of apostasy from
the Fathers love; for the present,
love; l will love them freely. without
money and without price," for what
price could pay for this inestimable
blessing? for the future, ever-in-
creasing progress and blessedness;
God will be to his restored people an
enriching, stimulating, reviving dew,
causing them to throw out new
branches, strike new roots deeper into
the soil, blossom in beauty and fra
GRANGE, and bring forth fruit in abun.
dance.
What is the significance Of the
three comparisons used Of the re-
stored people? !. They are to be like
the lily, In Its purity and beauty. 2.
They are to be like Lebanon. rooted
deep in the earth, with it's foothills
stretching forth like roots; or perhaps
the reference Is to the firmly rooted
Cedars OF Lebanon; at any rate the
comparison signifies strength, which
is to be added to beauty. 3. They are
to be like the olive tree, which Is not
lovely as the lily but is gnarled and
ugly; nor strong and imposing like
the mountain and It's great cedars. but
feeble and insignificant to the eye;
but 1t Is green when other trees are
bare. and 1t brings forth abundance Of
rich fruit.
The confident statement whether
made by Jehovah. or. as some com.
mentators and both authorized and re-
vised versions hold, by Ephraim him.
self that Ephraim (that Is. Israel. tho
leading tribe being put for the entire
Northern Kingdom) has nothing more
to do with idols; he is through with
them; they are laid away with his I'M
happy past. This actually happened
after the exile; the returned Jews had
had enough Of idolatry, and never
again lapsed into that sin.
Hosea certainly did not mcan, az he
is SO often misunderstood to mean.
that Israel was 81 firmly fixed in idol
airy that the nation could be
moved from that %iniquity. The proph'
ct was addressing Judah. the South
ern Kingdom, and bidding her hold
aloof from her idolatrous nelghbor
and let him alone. lest she herself
contract the foul disease.
The sum OF wisdom, according to
Hosea, is that wisdom consists OF
three things: Understanding, know.
ing the things that Hosea had been
setting forth, namely, Gods dealings
with his children. Understanding that
Gods ways are always right. straight,
alike when they spread themselves
out In an unbroken level for the pious,
and when they oppose themselves In
rocky stumbling-blocks to the I'M
godly,
Hosea began his warnings at the
point where we feel the most pride
Our nation Is proud Of It's wealth and
power. but these two things lead Ia
worldiness. which is our greatest
peril.
What would be the substance Of
Hosea's message to the nation and tc
each n Of US? "Take with you
words, and return unto the Lord" Oul
sins must be acknowledged, humbly
hafora nnA Aol Sn,lIr hafa.n xuAax