Righteousness Rained from Heaven

HOSEA 10.12. For it is time to seek Jehovah until he come and rain righteousness upon you.

IN the Words foregoing, the Prophet giveth Israel a discovery of the uncomfortable tearms on which they stood at this time with God: they had been disobedient, and undutiful in their behaviour, as appeareth in the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5th verses he was grieved and angry with them, as in the tenth [It is in my heart to chastise them.]

The way by which he was minded to do this was the Inrode of the Heathen [And the People shall be gathered against them.] The God of Israel is the Lord of Hosts. He doth according to his will in the Army of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth. He hisseth for the flies that is in the utmost parts of the Rivers of Egypt, and for the Bee that is in the land of Assyria, and maketh them to rest in the place where he appointeth, Isai. 7.18, 19. it became Israel therefore when they saw the Nations gathering against them, to eye God who in his anger had mustered and given them a charge so to do. The Assyrian is the rod of his anger, and the staffe in their hand is his indignation, they move not ti◊l he sendeth, they make no spoile until he giveth the word of command, 2 King. 24 2, 3. And the Lord s◊nt against 〈…〉 bands of the Caldee◊, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammo◊, an◊ s◊nt them against Judah to destroy it. Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah.

p. 2The Prophet addeth [When they shall binde them in their two furrows] here Interpreters are variously minded: some take the words to signifie the ground, and some, the event o◊ the ensuing War; those that incline to the former, conceive the Prophet to compare the people to untamed Bullocks, impatient of the yoke, and disused to plow, that will not keep the fu◊row, but tu◊n, now on the right hand, and then on the left; so this people, instead of going right forward in the way of truth, w◊ich is but one halted betwixt two, balked in their obedience, and perverted their way: their heart was divided, as in the second verse of this chapter, they were crooked in their doings, and fix◊d in their frowardness, ◊herefore God was purposed to chastise them▪ vide Z◊nch. in locum.

p. 2Others carry the words to d◊note the issue of the War, which was like to be sad on Israels part; fo◊ t◊ough they did 〈…〉 and binde themselves w◊th utmost resolu◊ion, to abide in their trenches or furrows, for their own defence▪ yet a◊l in vain, Gods counsel should stand, and the Heathen ◊aving a charge from him would certainly tread them do◊n So Ca◊vin, Their Enemies p◊evaili◊g against them, would enfo◊ce them to miserable bondage and slavery, mak◊ng them drudge like Oxen at plough. So Mercer. But why will God do thus b◊ ◊is people? It is answered [Ephraim is a Heifer that is taught, an◊ ◊◊veth to tread out the Corn] In those times they were wont to tread out the Corn with the trampling of beasts: and God had command◊d concerning the oxe, while improved in that service, that he should not be muzzled: this was pleasanter work then plowing: and this Ephraim was for, a cheap Religion pleased him. They were grown sensual, sl◊ggish, remiss and wan◊on in their Profession, 1 Kin. 12 26, 27, 28. Jeroboam said in his heart, now shall the kingdome return to the house of David, if this people go n◊ to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem: whereupon he took counsel and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, Behold thy Gods O Israel. If they might pick and chuse among Gods Precepts, take and leave as they listed, well and good: but to be at so much pains as a conversation commensurate to all Gods commands required they could not bear. Thus Pha◊a◊h The Lord be so with you as I will let you go, Exod. 10.10. I will order the matter, and let Jehovah comply and take up with what I shall see cause to appoint; But God resisteth the proud.

p. 3It followeth therefore [But I passed over upon her fair neck,] God had dealt bounti◊ully with Israel, made h◊m ride on the high places of the Earth, that he might eat the increase of the field, and he wa◊ grown fat, Deut. 32.13, 14. but they abused his kindness, waxed proud and unruly, and would serve no further then would serve their own turn, making their own pleasure not Gods the rule of their obedience: wherefore God had already pass◊d, over their neck, laid afflictions upon them, and had made their glory t◊en, and the fatness of their fl◊sh lean, if thereby they might have been tamed and reduced unto a thorough subjection to his will: but this did not do; wherefore he addeth [I will make Ephraim to ride] inasmuch as lesser chastisements did not avail, God threa◊n◊th to deal more roughly with them, with a stronger hand, violen◊ly to break in upon them, and send them into Captivity. So the word [Ride] some◊imes importeth, Job 30.21, 22. With thy strong hand thou opposest thy self ◊gainst me, thou l◊ftest me up to the wind, thou causest me to ride, and diss◊lvest my substance. Judah shall ploug◊, and J◊cob shall break his ◊lods the rest who went not into c◊ptivity should see a great deal of hardsh◊p and aba◊ement, th◊ugh not so much as those that rode and were scattered amo◊g t◊e nations.

p. 3Upon this in the 12th verse, He exhorteth them unto reformation and amendment of their wayes [Some to your selv◊s in righteousness] that their reformation might be sound, and such as would hold, he counselleth to bottome it on repentance, [Break up your fallow ground] whatever men may pret◊nd at present, or promise for the future, unl◊ss they repent, and sorrow after a godly sort for sin past, their reforma◊ion proveth like seed scattered on Land that never was brok◊n up, which cometh to nothing in the issue.