CHAP. VII. V. 1-3. The labors of Elijah, Elisha, and many other prophets; the ruin of Ahab's idolatrous family by Jehu, who destroyed Baal out of Israel; (1 Kings 17:-22: 2
cies and warnings, which the Lord continued to them, were means used for their healing: but they eventually served the more to discover the extreme wickedness of all ranks of men; especially in Samaria, where fraud, violence, and robbery were perpetrated in the most atrocious manner. (Marg. and Marg . Ref . a-e.- Notes , 4:1-3. 5:1,2,11,12. 6:8,9.) For they never
they never seriously considered that God noted, and remembered against them, all their wickedness; not even when the effects of their crimes beset them about, and caused them manifold distresses. ( Marg . and 1 Marg . Marg. Ref . f-i.- Notes , Job 22:5-14, vv . 12–14. Ps . 10:2 -11, vv . 4,11.) But, as their kings and princes were given up to idolatry and other wickedness; the people were glad to please them, by conforming to their false worship, copying their vices, and lavishing flattering encomigratified, and rendered bolder in wickedness. -The succession of kings from Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, "who made Israel to sin," even to the prophet's time, may be intended. ( Marg . Ref . k.)
ing his threatened vengeance on them, con-ums upon them; with which they were highly
vince them of the truth of his holy word. All oblations and external services are mere hypocrisy, whilst justice, mercy, truth, and piety are neglected: and that confidence, even in the sacrifice of Christ, is groundless presumption, which encourages any one to "continue in sin." If men had the true knowledge of God, they could not be so deluded: and if they ⚫ were partakers of true faith, they could not but hate sin, and uprightly fear, love, obey, and serve our God and Savior. But under every dispensation men prove themselves the children of Adam, by breaking the law and covenant, and abusing the mercy and good-passions. Their hearts were inflamed with
ness of God: the most favored places often become most notorious for sin; the most sacred offices are filled by the worst of men; no tongue can express what horrible defilements God sees continually, even in his visible church. But whilst multitudes are ripening for destruction, a time is coming, when he will return the captivity of his people, and fill the earth with his glory: and then "Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall" abound in songs of grateful praise.
Lies . (3) Their flatteries, or perhaps their hypocritical conformity to the established idolatry; or their slanders and false accusations of those few, who adhered to the spiritual worship and service of God.
V. 4. The whole company were adulterers, as well as idolaters, and were most eagerly bent upon the indulgence of their unlawful sensual desires like a heated oven. Satan or his agents had combined to excite their own lusts in kindling this fire: ( Note , Jam . 1:13— 15.) and they cherished and kept it burning; waiting for the opportunity of gratifying it, without regard to duty or decency. The tempter had only to prepare them the occasion of sin, as the baker prepares the dough for the heated oven; and they were ready to seize upon it.--"He will cease from waking after,
|| &c." ( Marg .) The baker may take l is rest 7 They are all hot as an oven, and have $ devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that call-go eth unto me.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they to Assyria.
12 When they shall go, I will spread
8 Ephraim, " he hath mixed himself my net upon them: I will bring them among the people; Ephraim is a cake not
turned.
till the dough be ready: for the oven is sufficiently heated, and no more needs his attention. ( Marg . Ref .-- Note , 5--7.)
down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: 'though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
i 9:12. Is. 31:1. Lam. 5:16. E.z. 16:23. Matt. 23:13-29. Rev. 8:13.
k 11:2. Job 21:14,15, 22:17. Ps. 139:7-9, Jon. 1:3,10. Heb. spoil.
1 Deut. 15:15. Neh. 1:10. Ps. 106:10. 107:2,3. Is. 41:14. 43: 1-3. 63:8-10. Mic. 6:4. 1 Pet. 1:18,19.
m 3. 11:12. Is. 59:13. Jer. 18: 11,12. 42:20. 44:17,18. Ez. 18: 2,25. Mal. 3:13-15. 1 John 1:10.
he still professed to worship JEHOVAH. Thus he became "a cake not turned," half burnt and half dough, and none of it fit for use; a motley
V. 5-7. On the king's birth-day, or corona-mixture of idolatry and the worship of God.
tion-day, or on some other public occasion when he made a royal feast, his nobles tempted him to drink to the most shameful excess, "making him sick with bottles of wine;" (or "heat through wine:" marg .) and when he was thus intoxicated, "he stretched out his hand with scorners;" treated every thing sacred with the most impious contempt; and perhaps employed his authority to persecute the worshippers of JEHOVAH. ( Marg . Ref . n--r--Note, Gen. 40: 20-22. Р. О. Esth. 1:10--12. Dan. 5:1-9.
Matt. 14:6--12.) 'Some recent and notorious 'act of contempt to God, or to his prophets, 'or to public justice, is here alluded to.' Bp . Newcombe.--Thus they prepared themselves and each other for every daring wickedness: and perhaps some of them had their hearts inflamed with ambition and revenge, and lay in wait for that opportunity, to murder the drunken king and usurp his throne. Their furious passions rendered Satan's temptations unnecessary. Their "baker" might "sleep all the night," and in the morning find his oven as hot as he could wish it; that is, their hearts
But he was eager in iniquity, and lukewarm, yea hypocritical, in the worship of God, and partial in every attempt to reform. ( Marg . Ref . u, x.- Notes , 8:2-4. Ps . 106:35-45. Jer . 12:7 -9, v. 9.) The strange gods and heathen alliances weakened him continually; and the neighboring nations by hostile invasions devoured his strength: yet he perceived no danger, and never suspected the cause of his decay, namely, that the hand of God was lifted up against him. ( Marg .
Ref . y.- Notes , 2 Kings 15:19,20,29. 17:1-6. Із. 13:22-25.) In short, he had as evident tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age and of the decay of the constitution: and the prophets evidently saw these symptoms and pointed them out to him, but he took no notice. This arose from his pride , which openly testified against him; seeing neither judgments, warnings, nor mercies, could induce him to return and seek the Lord. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . z-b.-- Notes , 5: 5. Jer . 8:4--7. Am . 4:6-13.)
V. 11, 12. In another view of the subject, Ephraim was become like "a silly dove;" not
as ready for any wickedness as could be de-in innocence and gentleness , but in folly and
sired. For, being heated with wine and selfish and malignant passions, they murdered their magistrates and kings one after another: yet neither the people, nor any one of their kings, amid these distractions and miseries, would seek help from God! All the kings of Israel were idolaters, and most of thein most
timorousness , "without heart;" having neither understanding, courage, nor resolution. He was frighted at every appearance of danger: but instead of fleeing to God for refuge, as the doves fly to their windows; he was like the silly dove, that flies here and there for safety, till she is taken in the fowler's net, being easi
atrociously wicked in other respects. ( Marg . ly seduced into it. Sometimes he applied to
and Marg . Ref . s, t.) 'The flame of civil dis'cord is spread among the people in general. 'This hath been the destruction both of the 'inferior magistrates, and of their kings too. 'An anarchy continuing for eleven years, after 'the death of Jeroboam the second; and after'wards his son Zechariah, and his successors, 'Shallum and Pekahiah, being slain by con'spiracies formed against them. (2 Kings 15: '10,14,25.) Lowth .
the Assyrians, and sometimes to the Egyptians, without prudence, or prospect of safety: and thus he would be entangled in the net which the Lord had spread for him, and be overtaken with inevitable ruin, as the fowls are ensnared and destroyed by the fowler. ( Marg . Ref . c-g.- Notes , 5:13,14. 10:5,6. 11:5 -7.14:1-3.2 Kings 15:19,20. 17:4. Is . 30:4,5. 31:1.) For God would certainly punish them, "as the congregation" of Israel "had" repeatedly "heard" from the prophets; and especial( Marg . Ref . h.) "When they hearken to their assembly." When they are swayed by the [723
V.8--10. Ephraim (or the kingdom of the ten tribes,) had intimately connected himself ly, as had been foretold in the books of Moses.
with the surrounding nations, by alliances, intermarriages, and communion in idolatry: yet
14 And they have not cried unto meened their arms, yet do they 'imagine mis
with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
15 Though I have * bound and strength
Is. 29:13. Jer. 3:10. Zech. q 2 Kings 13:5,23. 14:25-27.
7:5.
Is. 52:5. 65:14. Am. 8:3. Jam. 5:1.
p 3:1 Ex. 32:6. Judg. 9:27. Am. 2:8. Mic. 2:11. Rom. 16:18.
Ps. 106:43-45.
*Or, chastened. Job 5:17. Ps. 94:12,13. Prov. 3:11,12. Heb. 12:5-11. Rev. 3:19.
'counsel of their assembly to seek foreign as'sistance.' Bp. Newcombe.
V. 13-16. Deserved ruin must come upon the people, seeing they had not only transgressed against God, but fled from him, who alone could pardon and save them. Though he had often redeemed them from their enemies; yet they had "spoken lies against" him, as if he were a severe Master, and his service hard and unprofitable: or they had mocked him with hypocritical professions of repentance. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i-m.- Notes , Ex . 20:2. Deut . 15:13-15. Mic. 6:3-5.
Matt . 25:24-30.) Even when on the bed of sickness or death, or laboring under heavy afflictions, they howled out for anguish and terror, and vented their bitter and impatient complaints before God: they did not cry to him with their hearts; they did not humble themselves before him or expect help from him; at least they did not intend to return to his service, but only cried out, (like the unclean spirit,) "Torment me not," in a mixture of horror and enmity. ( Marg . Ref . n. o.- Notes , Job 35:9-13. Ps. 78:34-37.
Matt. 8:28,29. Р. О. 28-34.) When they met together to pray for a favorable harvest or vintage, they sought these things only to consume on their lusts, and persisted at the very time in rebellion against God. (Marg. Ref . n.- Note , Jam . 4:1-3.) And when the Lord chastised them, and afterwards bound up their wounds and strengthened them, they still devised more rebellion and wickedness against him.
Even when they seemed to repent and turn to him; they only left Baal to worship the golden calves; or they rested in some form or external reformation, and never came up to true repentance, faith, spiritual worship, or holy obedience. They deceived every expectation formed of them, like a broken or a useless bow in the day of battle: their princes therefore would one after another perish by the sword, for their daring impieties and revilings of God's prophets: and their miseries would excite the derision of the Egyptians, on whom they had depended for protection against the Assyrians. ( Marg .
Ref . q-x.- Notes , 5-10. 6:4,5. 11:5-7. Ps . 78:56 60.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-10.
The means used to bring sinners to repentance and salvation, whether by the labors of God's ministers, or by providential dispensations, serve only to detect and aggravate their wickedness; except they be accompanied with
chief against me.
16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for "the rage of their tongue: * this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
r Ps. 2:1. 62:3. Jer. 17:9. Nah. 1:9,11. Acts 4:25. Rom. 1:21. 2 Cor. 10:5.
56:4. 8:14. 11:7. Ps. 78:37. Jer. 3:10. Luke 8:13,14. 11: 24-26.
t Ps. 78:57.
u 13. Ps. 12:4. 52:2, 57:4. 73: 9. Is. 3:8. Jer. 18:18. Matt. 12:36,37. Jam. 3:5-8.2 Pet. 2:8. Rev. 13:5,6.
x 8:13. 9:3,6. Ez. 23:32. 36:20.
as evidence against them, and shew all the world the justice of their punishment, by discovering the malignity of their crimes.-Alas! how poor an object do men attain, who ingratiate themselves with ungodly kings and nobles, by wickedness and lies; and thus expose themselves to the wrath of God, and even increase the condemnation of their haughty patrons!
The depraved hearts of men and the temptations of Satan are as congenial as fire and fuel, and concur in preparing sinners for the practice of every crime: and want of opportunity, ability, or courage, prevents more wickedness, than perhaps all other causes combined. So that the open, and even the secret enormities of men's lives, atrocious as they are, bear a very small proportion to the desperate wickedness of their hearts.
But when lust is inwardly conceived and cherished, it will more or less break forth into outward sin: the devil, who first suggests the idea of forbidden indulgence, will assist in devising the means of gratification; and then sinners will proceed without further temptation, "having made ready their hearts like an oven," while they lie in wait for the opportunity.
Thus adulteries, murders, and all horrible crimes are perpetrated, without hesitation or remorse, when it can be done with present impunity.Days of public festivity, though they ought to be days of praise and thanksgiving, and hoi, joy in God, are almost always attended with much wickedness, and followed with many fatal effects. Intoxication leads men to every kind of impiety and immorality: but what an infamy and degradation is it for a king to be "made sick with bottles of wine," and to be a companion, and an example, to scorners and blasphemers! ( Notes , 1 Kings 20:16-18.
Prov. 20.). Р. О. 1-16. Notes , 23:29-35. Р. О. 19 -35.) They, who tempt princes and rulers to such a degrading vice, can never be their friends: and not unfrequently the event shews that they were plotting their ruin; and that they were lying in wait, with hearts full of malice or ambition, to murder both body and soul, by an exquisite refinement in cruelty. (Note, 2 Sam. 13:22-29.) Whilst men thus execute the vengeance of God on each other, how seldom do those that witness such trans actions, "call upon God," who alone can preserve them from being involved in similar ruin?
Thus nations ripen for destruction: and such as are called Christians often differ in nothing from pagans; except in the worthless attempt to forin a coalition between religion and the world, that is, between God and the neither nations, nor churches, nor individuals,
his special blessing. The whole "salvation of devil! But we are so blind to ourselves, that
the righteous is therefore of the LORD;" but
the condemnation of the wicked is of them-can see, in their own case, those symptoms of
selves, and justly deserved.-Men commit numerous and heinous crimes, without reflection, recollection, or remorse: because "they consider not, that the LORD remembers all their wickedness," and will produce the whole of it
decay and approaching ruin, which are visible to all around them. The same pride, which emboldens men to break the law of God, leads them to self-flattery, and to continue impenitent amidst the rebukes of Providence, and the
a 5:8. Is. 18:3.58:1. Jer. 4:5. 16:59. Heb. 8:8-13. 6:1. 51:27. Ez. 7:14. 33:3-6. Joel 2:1,15. Am. 3:6. Zeph. 1:16. Zech. 9:14. 1 Cor. 15:52. Heb. the roof of thy mouth. b Deut. 28:49. Jer. 4:13. 48:40. Hab. 1:8. Matt. 24:28. 9:15. 2 Kings 18:17.
3. 9:1. Zech. 11:1.
Am. 8:
d 6:7. Is. 24:5. Jer. 31:32. Ez.
e 5:15. 7:13,14. 2 Kings 10:16, 29. Ps. 78:34-37. Is. 48:1,2. Jer. 7:4. Mic. 3:11. Matt. 7: 21-23.25-11,12. Luke 13:25 -27. Tit. 1:16. 1 John 2:4. f Ps. 36:3. 81:10,11. Am. 1:11. 1 Tim. 5:12.
1 13:9. 1 Kings 13:34. Jer. 44:7,8. Ez. 18:31.
m 6. 10:5. Is. 14:20. Acts 7:41. n Deut. 32:22. 2 Kings 17:16-
18,21-23.
o Prov. 1:22. Jer. 4:14. 13:27. p Ps. 106:19,20.
q-Ps. 115:4-8.135:15-18. Is. 44:9-20. Jer. 10.3-9,14,15. Hab. 2:18-20. Acts 17:29. 19:26.
r 10:2,5,6. Jer. 43:12,13. 50:2. s 2 Kings 23:15,19. 2 Chr. 31: 1. 34:6,7.
warnings of his word. "They "They will not return they had now provoked him, by breaking his to the LORD, nor seek him for all this." V. 11-16.
When sinners are terrified, and driven from one device to another for safety; they are so devoid of understanding, that the mercy and grace of God are frequently the only refuge, to which they never think of fleeing. But to whatever other expedients they have recourse, the Lord will take them in his net, and execute upon them those judgments, of which all his congregations have often heard. Woe then |
law and violating his covenant, to depart from them. 'Give notice of the approaching ene'my, (5:8.) who is coming with speed and fierce'ness, like a bird of prey ( Deut . 28:49.) against 'the city and temple of Jerusalem. By "the 'house of the LORD," may be meant God's peo'ple in general, whom he formerly took a pe'culiar care of, as his own family. (9:15.) This 'may probably denote Sennacherib's invasion." Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . b-d. - Notes , Jer . 4:5—13. Matt . 24:26-28.) - The verse may be consider
be to those transgressors, who attempt to fleeed as a general warning to Judah as well as
from God! for in this way destruction is inevitable. But to him, as the Redeemer of Israel, the chief of sinners may approach with acceptance: and those who perish in their sins speak lies against him, if they charge their ruin either on his secret purposes, or his refusal to have mercy on them. Yet numbers, when, in deep distress, they howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, do not cry to God with their hearts, for the blessings of his complete salvation. Even their prayers for temporal mercies only require provision for their lusts, and are united with rebellion.
Whether God afflict and weaken them, or bind up and strengthen thein, they continue to "devise mischief against him." Their very repentance, and conversion from one sect, sentiment, form, or vice, to another, leave them far short of conversion to God, to Christ, and holiness: for "they return, but not to the most High," and rest in some plausible scheme of hypocrisy or false religion.
When they speak fair, their professions are deceitful; but when they pour forth outrageous blasphemies and lies, their tongues agree with their hearts; (Note, Jam . 3:3-6.) and their destruction will be attended with the derision and contempt of their tempters and companions in iniquity. Such is human nature! Such is the progress and end of impiety! Such shall we prove if left to ourselves! "Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us."
NOTES.
Israel: though the following verses are immediately addressed to the ten tribes.- Trans gressed , &c.] Notes , 6:7. Is . 24:1-12, υυ . 5,6. Jer . 31:31,32.
V. 2-4. When Israel should be hard pressed by the Assyrians, they would claim a relation to God, and profess to put themselves under his protection, as a people that had known and worshipped him. But their pretensions would be disregarded; for they "had cast off" him that is good, or "that which is good;" they had forsaken the Lord, and his temple and worship: they had despised his prophets and trampled on his law, by their idolatries and iniquities; and this for many ages: therefore their enemies would pursue and prevail against them. ( Marg . Ref . e-g. -Notes , John 8:5459.
Tit . 1:14-16.) They had set up kings and princes of their own choosing, in opposition to his chosen race the family of David, when they revolted from Rehoboam, and through all succeeding generations: they never consulted their heavenly King, about the appointment of their earthly kings: and both they, and their kings and princes, had employed their treasures in making idols, as if on purpose to provoke God to cut them off. ( Marg . Ref . h-k. -Notes , 2:8,9. Ex . 32:2-6.1 Kings 12:16,26 -31. 16:2 Kings 15:)
V. 5, 6. The calf of Samaria (or that placed at Bethel, in the kingdom of which Samaria was the capital,) could not protect its worshippers, but would "cast them off;" for the Assyrians would seize upon them and their idol also. And how long would it be, ere they cleared themselves of this idolatry? Did they never intend it? The whole of that worship was Israel's invention, from the time when the golden calf was made in the wilderness, contrary to the express command of God. ( Marg . Ref .