Hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn to their God: for the spirit of prostitutions is in the middle of them… This is one of those strong Old English expressions which have been retained in our north country speech. People say, "He frames well," meaning of a new servant, he sets hopefully to his work, he shows adaptation. Hosea lived at the time when Israel, whose sin had ripened before Judah's, was beginning to suffer its punishments. Hosea directs the eye of Judah to the miseries falling on Israel, bidding her take warning and hasten to turn back from all her wicked ways to God. In the case of Israel there is a kind of hopelessness that they would ever repent, and the text expresses this hopelessness, — "They will not frame their doings," etc. Such a description of men's state in relation to God is suitable to every generation. I. EVERY MAN'S FIRST DUTY IS TO TURN UNTO HIS GOD. Shew it is his duty from these considerations. 1. The claims and relations of God. The eye of every created thing but man is towards God. Whatever view may be taken of those relations — Creator, King, Father — this is certain, God ought to be something to every man — ought to be all that He can possibly be. Man should turn to Him. 2. The conditions of our being. Our condition is one of dependence. Possibly one of gracious friendship with our Creator. We are certainly under temporary conditions on which depend the eternal conditions. 3. The fact that man is turned from God. None are disposed to deny that fact. The consequences are too plainly written on the care-burdened earth — too certainly stamped in on human consciousness. Men everywhere are trying to turn to God, then they must be turned from Him. 4. The special call made by God, in His mercy, through Christ. All natural calls of God are sealed and intensified by His extraordinary call. A new pressure God has put on men — urging them to Himself in Christ. The voice of the Cross is, "Turn ye; turn ye"! It is man's greatest duty, because not concerning the transitory but the eternal, not the temporary but the essential. A true life is a continual turning to God, as the needle to the pole. II. PRECISELY IN THIS FIRST AND GREATEST DUTY MOST MEN FAIL. One of the most constant efforts of a Christian ministry is to point out the various hindrances keeping men from God, their self-delusions, their religious delusions, their procrastinations. Men's doings are the apparent hindrance; men's bad wills are the real hindrance. By "men's doings" are not meant single, isolated acts, but sets and courses of conduct, habits of life, moulds in which conduct is regularly cast. These become such power for evil, because they re-act on the will, enslaving it. So the Old Testament and our Lord and His apostles all say so much about men's doings. What will be the real seeking after God? Its fountain must be in the heart. Penitent yearning of the soul for God. Its expression must be in confession and prayer. The test and proof of its sincerity must be a changed conduct. In every case there will be a suitable "framing of the doings." Men are not without heart desires for God, nor without lip confessions and seekings; but how few can stand the further test of the way in which they "frame their doings." Let us test ourselves by the Scripture terms for the spirit of the ungodly. 1. Lust of the flesh. Indulgence of bodily passion. What have we given up in order to turn to God? 2. Lust of the eyes. The higher pleasures of mind. 3. Pride of life. The great sin of our times. Further, test our religious profession by our unforgivings and envyings. What sincerity then is there in our turning to God? This is the Lord's reproach. "Ye will not frame your doings to turn unto God." A man's sincerity is seen in what he will give up for an object. Illustrate from the going to war; framing their doings to show their patriotism. God looks for a like sincerity. But, after all, behind the doings is the real thing keeping men from turning to God. It is the bad will, the self-centred will. And so this must be the Divine reproach, "Ye will not come unto Me, that ye might have life." (Robert Tuck, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. |
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