The Spectator., 1915-12-07
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 12
JEHOVAH YEARNs OVER ISRAEL.

I1-
 GOLDEN TEXT-I drew them with cords of man. with bands of love- Hosea 1l:4.
 A contemporary of Isaiah and Amos, Hosea continued to prophecy after the first captivity of the northern kingdom. His style is abrupt and fig urative. Israel Is Jehovahs adulter- ous wife, repudiated, but finally to be purified and restored. This lesson is part of the second section of the book (4:1-13:S). which is a descrip- tion of the sinful people.
 [. "The Perverse Chid,v w. 1-7, The remnant" (ch. 6:1-3) had cried out for relief. (See Isa. 1:9; Rom. 2:5). Jehovah's reply (begins 6:4) is severe arraignment of Israel's back sliding as entrusted with his grace. To understand this lesson read the entire book repeatedly. In verse 1 of the lesson Jehovah recalls to the na- tion the days of it's childhood. Be- cause of his great love (Deut. I'D he called them out of Egypt, the land of bondage, into Canaan. the land of blessing and liberty. Yet Israel sensed not it's duty nor it's obligation of grati- tude. We are living under a greater obligation because of the greater re- demption God has provided for us in the person of his Son. God here calls Israel my son" (Ex. 4:22); we have the right to call ourselves sons (John 1:12; I. John 3:1-2). Matthew's gos- pei applies these words to him who alone was fully and in the true sense Gods son. Jesus is the summary of the whole nation in that he alone fully realized Gods purpose in Israel (Matt. 2:15).
 As entrusted with what a son is or should be verse 2 gives a picture of Israels wandering. The whole his tory of the nation is ono of going after false gods. q. Sam: S:7-9 and many other references.) In those childhood days (v. 9 Jehovah taught them how to walk, and healed their hurts but they knew not'-God, as a tender Fa- ther. had watched over. taught, guid- | ed and healed (Ex 1914; Isa 46: g. 63:9. Even so. in this present age l NOd io a NOo VI hhCAby anu iOIS ouL- fering (Rom. 2:4. yet the mass of men know not" what God is doing for them. In verse 4 the child has grown older and as mothers often tether a child lest 1t run away. SO Je- hovah endeavors to draw Israel to him with cords of love" His cord of love TOW is the mighty power of 1 a1, only drew but even sought to entice, for he laid meat unto them"-Jesus will deliver us. for he lore our yoke | (Matt. 11:2S-30) and is for us the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 5S). Love does not mean that the backslider shall be free from punishment Be cause they refused to return the sword shall abide" (v. 5-6 and Heb | 12:6). Even so God did not permit them to go back to Egyptian bond age (v. B. Israel was bent to back sliding" In spite of the constant call to worship and serve him none would exalt him.
 None can fathom the depths of the cry, How shall I give thee up, How shall l deliver thee" (v. S). Israel would persist and still Jehovah pleads | that perchance they would heed his cry (Jer. 9:7: Lam. 3;33). Admah and Zeboim were irretrievably over thrown with Sodom and Gomorrah tDeut. 29;S3), shall Israel likewise perish? No, (v. 9) for 'I am Gcd, not man" God does not, like man l change-his covenants are not scraps of paper" his love is everlasting tNu 23: 19). It is not God but man who is responsible for his destruction. The Holy One in the midst of thee" is there to save, not as an avenger. God has not come into our midst in wrath Gods passionate desire is to save not to destroy. His purposes are those of love and redemption and as with Israel of old, so ir this age he will carry out these purposes in spite of our backsli6ing (Rom. 1l:2S-29). Verses 10 and II are prophetic of the ultimate repentance and restoration of lsrael-judgment shall pass upon their foes (Joel 3:16) and those of the dis persion (see parallel lsa. 11:11-16) shall gather, as doves to their win dows." and be once more "in their houses" l. e., set up as nation in their God-given land. Ephraim (v. 12) sought to rule without or by casting off Jehovah q. Cor. 4;S(.
 In Judah was the legal priesthood and the legitimate king. but the apos. tasy of Israel was more culpable be- cause of the example of Judah which he had set at nought.
 III. Promised Deliverance. In a most striking way Hosea flashes a note of hope and love through the cloud of gloom which hung ever the nation as it drew closer to it's doom. because the people refused to repent Amos delivered his warning and re- turned to Judah.
 l Hosea was part of the nation