Evening star., 1927-11-12


burnt offerings. s.-Hosea Nlb.
Hosea entered upon his work as
prophet shortly after Amos and pro
nounced his message of sdoom upoi
Israel. he was directed through hi
own bitter personal trial, which he in
terpreted as a symbol of Jehovah's ex
perienee with apostle Israel, Il
preach the undying and unchangeabis
love of God for His people. In tns
painful school of afiiiotion Hosea
learned lessons that made him one o.
the greatest prophets. The ancien
Jewish leaders rated him first among
the so-called minor prophets, for thes
placed his prophecy at the opening ol
the messages of the twelve. One need'
to read the tragedy OF the prophet
| domestic experience, recorded ps
Hosea in the three opening chapters
| of his prophecy. If they wish tt
grasp bis appeal to Isreal, In the sac
| facts of the prophets life Wlll OF
| found the master key OF his teachings
| It is not possible to consider ths
message of Hosea contained In the las
| section of his prophecy, from the
| fourth through the fourteenth chap
| ter. because of the limitation of space
| Robinson claims "the salient teaen
! ings" of Hosea may be summed un
der three words-complain, condem
nation and consolation" Weddel has
| pointed out he was "the prophet ol
Salvation" This is in harmony with
| his name, which springs from TINS
same root as that of Joshua and Jesus
signifying Salvation" help, "deliV
GRANGE"
Hosea was a patriot, who mourned
over the results of his country's In
ward spiritual corruption. He saw
that it was more dangerous to IsraeIs
existence as q nation than its enemies
1t is this fact that makes the message
OF Hosea up to date In warning our
own. nation against confidence in ex-
ternal prosperity. He saw that all ma
tionai events are under the divine
supervision. He summoned the peo.
pie of Israel to repent and return
unto the Lord from their fHgrafituda,
idolatry and indifference because Of
His love. His passionate pleas for
Israel to love God and be loyal to
Him called for the nation as indiYid.
uals TO love both Jehovah and their
fellow men.
Real Repentance Required.
The sixth chapter. which lis one OF
the most powerful portions of the
prophecy" consists OF a wonderful
pair OF soIiloquies. It opens with q
representation OF Israel as soliloaniz'
ing. The expression OF the nations
repentance. due to the preaching OF
the prophets, lis beautiful, but the evi'
dence Of real repentance lis lacking
~tac
to the Lord with mere formulas of re
pentance. They evidently have
thought that the statement Of these
forms would avert their threatened
doom. Evidently they were ignorant
concerning Gods character and the
nature OF repentance.
Jehovah is represented as being per
picked ito know what to make Of q
people like Israel; for their love
| which He Graves, and which is the only
basis for sincere eontrition, ts like this
morning mist, which In quickly dis
gipated by the rising sun" Surface
| repentance. born Of fear Of the conse
| quences Of their sin, is not acceDta
BILE to the Lord. Hakiongs for them tt
know and to do His viii. He did moi
desire them to expect forgiveness by
| compliance with the ceremonial laws
1
| use of Hosea's great text. II desire
kindness rather than mercy, and
not sacrifice, shows that He approved
| the prophets position. Although Je
hovah ionged to forgive Israel, lie
could not overlook their treachery
| and RIGHTEOUSNESS without real re
| pentance.
Gods Unchanging Love.
Hosea found In the history of Gods
dealing with His people the evidence
| of His love for them, The prophet re
yeais Jehovah az a Father, lamantine
over 1sraels waywardness. trying u
win the people back through His love
gal son of the Old Testament. The
eleventh chapter contains a massage
of hope for the lost. Hosea had learn
ed something of the Heavenly Father
| love In his own trials. He traced
Gods unchanging love from the com
mancement OF the nation, when III
called Abraham out of Ur. down ints
| EgyDt, when He responded TO theil
cry for relief from being crushed be
meath the heel OF that power. Ffon
Moses to the last Of the Judges. Je
hovah had been recognized az the hens
and controller Of the nation. but 40
1
! their power. prosperity and pfestls'
they had forgotten the One who hhs
made possible their greatness an
glory.
The nation that had not recognizes
the Fathers love by my form OF reel
procity. had ignored His mefcies AN
deserved their punishment. The long
suffering God could destroy, but II
spite of their iniauity. indifference an
injustice, Jehovah ianged to save, !
they would love Him with all thsi
hearts and auit following the pagan
gods, But because they refused 4
heed the messages Of the prophets
the prophet pointed out that the L9f'
would be compelled to discipline IL
rae. He saw their absorption int
Aasyria; nevertheless Hosea held eii
before them a ray of hope. LookinI
far ahead the prophet spoke Of hos
Jehovah would restore them to thei
own land and home. when tho exil
had completed the task Of disciplinin
Israel,
Saved by True Repentance.
Garvie suggests that the last char
ter of the prophecy should be treate
as dramatic poem. Hosea puts int
| the mouths OF the exile the words q
Repentance that they are to use whe
they haye.learned the folly Of depend
ing upon foreign alliances. He sul
gests that they pray God, ther
"CIeanse us thoroughly from orr SIM
Accept as our best Offering the cor
fsgsions and faithful vows we no,
make" lie assured them that whe
, they no longer worshiped the idol
made by their own hands, and sough