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THE

PREACHER'S COMPLETE HOMILETICAL

COMMENTARY

ON THE

OLD TESTAMENT

(ON AN ORIGINAL PLAN),

With Critical and Explanatory Notes, Endices, Etc., Etc.

BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.

London:

RICHARD D. DICKINSON, 271 FARRINGDON STREET.

ON THE

MINOR PROPHETS.

BY

REV. JAMES WOLFENDALE.

BIBLIOTHE

MAR 80

GODLCIAND

London:

RICHARD D. DICKINSON, 27 FARRINGDON STREET.

1879.

101 h 221
221(27)

Bungay

CLAY AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS

HOMILETIC COMMENTARY

ON

HOSEA.

Introduction and Preface.

The Prophet. Hosea = salvation, deliverance, from the same root as Joshua and Jesus; the son of Beeri, a native of Israel, whose sins and fates he chiefly records. The name in marked contrast to his mission-announcement of ruin; yet in harmony with his vocation and the object of his book-to proclaim deliverance after judgment. Nothing known concerning the circumstances of his life. His character and disposition gathered from his prophecy.

sion.

The Age. More or less contemporary with Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, Joel, and Nahum. Probably entered upon his work in the last year of Jeroboam, and ended it at the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, i. e., about 60 years, from 784-722 B.C. "The shortest duration must have been some 65 years" [Pusey]. Others give a much longer period. This is the darkest period in the history of Israel. The obligations of the law were relaxed and the claims of religion disregarded. Baal was a rival to Jehovah, and in the dark recesses of groves were practised the cruel rites of idolatry. The land was distracted by domestic broils and foreign invaMight was marshalled against right. Princes and priests were accused of bribery and impiety. Murder and bloodshed were steps to the throne; stream met stream and deluged the land like a flood. "Remonstrance was useless; the knowledge of God was wilfully rejected; the people hated rebuke; the more they were called the more they refused; they forbade their prophets to prophesy; and their false prophets hated God greatly. All attempts to heal this disease only showed its incurableness" [Pusey]. Foreign nations are unheeded. Lycurgus the famous legislator, and Hesiod the Greek poet, lived during his ministry, but the prophet was intensely concerned with his own people. The threatened invasion came, and he saw the murder of the tribes and the ravages of the enemy. Invitations and warnings are replete with tenderness and woe. All is shrouded in darkness and gloom. Visions send forth lightning and thunder; but the sun breaks forth at last, and rainbow colours expand until encircled with brilliancy and hope. God in wrath remembers mercy.

The Book written by the author whose name it bears-the first of the twelve

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