Homilist Hosea 2:18-19 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven… I. INFERIOR CREATURES MIGHT BE DIVINELY RESTRAINED FROM INJURING THEM. Were man to possess and manifest the moral majesty of goodness, the wildest and most savage creatures would probably stand in awe of him. II. HUMAN ENEMIES MIGHT BE MADE TO SUBMIT TO THEM. Those who trust in the Lord need not be afraid of war. The spirit of the good man is to overcome evil with good. III. THEY MIGHT ENJOY A PERFECT SECURITY. The true safety is not the mere safety of the body. The body is not the man, it is his — not him. Soul-safety is the safety of the man — protection from all that is unholy in thought, impure in feeling, unrighteous in volition. IV. THEY MIGHT ENJOY VITAL UNION WITH THE EVERLASTING FOUNTAIN OF GOODNESS. Here is union indeed! Represented by that of husband and wife; a union formed of immutable ties. Righteousness, judgment, loving-kindness, faithfulness — who can break these bonds? Learn the supreme importance of moral goodness to man. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. |