prophets and kings-第49章
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。 King after king was assassinated to make way for others ambitious to rule。 〃They have set up kings；〃 the Lord declared of these godless usurpers； 〃but not by Me： they have made princes； and I knew it not。〃 Hosea 8：4。 Every principle of justice was set aside； those who should have stood before the nations of earth as the depositaries of divine grace； 〃dealt treacherously against the Lord〃 and with one another。 Hosea 5：7。
With the severest reproofs； God sought to arouse the impenitent nation to a realization of its imminent danger of utter destruction。 Through Hosea and Amos He sent
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the ten tribes message after message； urging full and complete repentance； and threatening disaster as the result of continued transgression。 〃Ye have plowed wickedness；〃 declared Hosea； 〃ye have reaped iniquity； ye have eaten the fruit of lies： because thou didst trust in thy way； in the multitude of thy mighty men。 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people； and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled。 。 。 。 In a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off。〃 Hosea 10：13…15。
Of Ephraim the prophet testified； 〃Strangers have devoured his strength； and he knoweth it not： yea； gray hairs are here and there upon him； yet he knoweth not。〃 ＇The prophet Hosea often referred to Ephraim； a leader in apostasy among the tribes of Israel； as a symbol of the apostate nation。＇ 〃Israel hath cast off the thing that is good。〃 〃Broken in judgment；〃 unable to discern the disastrous outcome of their evil course； the ten tribes were soon to be 〃wanderers among the nations。〃 Hosea 7：9； 8：3； 5：11； 9：17。
Some of the leaders in Israel felt keenly their loss of prestige and wished that this might be regained。 But instead of turning away from those practices which had brought weakness to the kingdom； they continued in iniquity； flattering themselves that when occasion arose； they would attain to the political power they desired by allying themselves with the heathen。 〃When Ephraim saw his sickness； and Judah saw his wound； then went Ephraim to the Assyrian。〃 〃Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart： they call to Egypt； they go to Assyria。〃 〃They do make a covenant with the Assyrians。〃 Hosea 5：13； 7：11； 12：1。
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Through the man of God that had appeared before the altar at Bethel； through Elijah and Elisha； through Amos and Hosea； the Lord had repeatedly set before the ten tribes the evils of disobedience。 But notwithstanding reproof and entreaty； Israel had sunk lower and still lower in apostasy。 〃Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer；〃 the Lord declared； 〃My people are bent to backsliding from Me。〃 Hosea 4：16； 11：7。
There were times when the judgments of Heaven fell very heavily on the rebellious people。 〃I hewed them by the prophets；〃 God declared； 〃I have slain them by the words of My mouth： and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth。 For I desired mercy； and not sacrifice； and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings。 But they like men have transgressed the covenant： there have they dealt treacherously against Me。〃 Hosea 6：5…7。
〃Hear the word of the Lord； ye children of Israel；〃 was the message that finally came to them： 〃Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God； I will also forget thy children。 As they were increased； so they sinned against Me： therefore will I change their glory into shame。 。 。 。 I will punish them for their ways； and reward them their doings。〃 Hosea 4：1； 6…9。
The iniquity in Israel during the last half century before the Assyrian captivity was like that of the days of Noah； and of every other age when men have rejected God and have given themselves wholly to evil…doing。 The exaltation of nature above the God of nature； the worship of the creature instead of the Creator； has always resulted in the grossest
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of evils。 Thus when the people of Israel； in their worship of Baal and Ashtoreth； paid supreme homage to the forces of nature； they severed their connection with all that is uplifting and ennobling； and fell an easy prey to temptation。 With the defenses of the soul broken down； the misguided worshipers had no barrier against sin and yielded themselves to the evil passions of the human heart。
Against the marked oppression； the flagrant injustice； the unwonted luxury and extravagance； the shameless feasting and drunkenness； the gross licentiousness and debauchery； of their age； the prophets lifted their voices； but in vain were their protests； in vain their denunciation of sin。 〃Him that rebuketh in the gate；〃 declared Amos； 〃they hate； 。 。 。 and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly。〃 〃They afflict the just； they take a bribe； and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right。〃 Amos 5：10； 12。
Such were some of the results that had followed the setting up of two calves of gold by Jeroboam。 The first departure from established forms of worship had led to the introduction of grosser forms of idolatry； until finally nearly all the inhabitants of the land had given themselves over to the alluring practices of nature worship。 Forgetting their Maker； Israel 〃deeply corrupted themselves。〃 Hosea 9：9。
The prophets continued to protest against these evils and to plead for rightdoing。 〃Sow to yourselves in righteousness； reap in mercy；〃 Hosea urged； 〃break up your fallow ground： for it is time to seek the Lord； till He come and rain righteousness upon you。〃 〃Turn thou to thy God： keep mercy and judgment； and wait on thy God continually。〃
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〃O Israel； return unto the Lord thy God； for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity： 。 。 。 say unto Him； Take away all iniquity； and receive us graciously。〃 Hosea 10：12； 12：6； 14：1； 2。
The transgressors were given many opportunities to repent。 In their hour of deepest apostasy and greatest need； God's message to them was one of forgiveness and hope。 〃O Israel；〃 He declared； 〃thou hast destroyed thyself； but in Me is thine help。 I will be thy King： where is any other that may save thee？〃 Hosea 13：9； 10。
〃Come； and let us return unto the Lord；〃 the prophet entreated； 〃for He hath torn； and He will heal us； He hath smitten； and He will bind us up。 After two days will He revive us： in the third day He will raise us up； and we shall live in His sight。 Then shall we know； if we follow on to know the Lord： His going forth is prepared as the morning； and He shall come unto us as the rain； as the latter and former rain unto the earth。〃 Hosea 6：1…3。
To those who had lost sight of the plan of the ages for the deliverance of sinners ensnared by the power of Satan； the Lord offered restoration and peace。 〃I will heal their backsliding； I will love them freely；〃 He declared： 〃for Mine anger is turned away from him。 I will be as the dew unto Israel： he shall grow as the lily； and cast forth his roots as Lebanon。 His branches shall spread； and his beauty shall be as the olive tree； and his smell as Lebanon。 They that dwell under His shadow shall return； they shall revive as the corn； and grow as the vine： the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon。 Ephraim shall say； What have I
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to do any more with idols？ I have heard him； and observed him： I am like a green fir tree。 From Me is thy fruit found。
〃Who is wise； and he shall understand these things？ Prudent； and he shall know them？ For the ways of the Lord are right； And the just shall walk in them： But the transgressors shall fall therein。〃 Hosea 14：4…9。
The benefits of seeking God were strongly urged。 〃Seek ye Me；〃 the Lord invited； 〃and ye shall live： but seek not Bethel； nor enter into Gilgal； and pass not to Beersheba： for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity； and Bethel shall come to nought。〃
〃Seek good； and not evil； that ye may live： and so the Lord； the God of hosts； shall be with you； as ye have spoken。 Hate the evil； and love the good； and establish judgment in the gate： it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph。〃 Amos 5：4； 5； 14； 15。
By far the greater number of those who heard these
