Shame for Glory
Jeremiah Burroughs. Hosea 4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. God loves to stain the pride and haughtiness of men. I. HE WOULD BRING SHAME INSTEAD OF GLORY. So God is wont to do. Women that glory in their beauty and splendour should mark well (Isaiah 3:16-24). If any will glory in parts, the Lord justly brings shame on them, blasting their gifts. It is reported of Albertus Magnus, that great scholar, that for five years before his death, he lost his faculties so completely that he could not read. If any glory in riches, God can soon turn that into shame. If any glory in honour, God can soon turn that into shame, as in the case of Herod. According to the glory of men in external things, so is their shame when God takes them away. Here is the difference between the saints and the wicked when they lose these outward things. II. GOD MAKES THE VERY THINGS THEY GLORY IN TURN TO THEIR SHAME. He makes their very gifts to be their undoing. When men glory in this, that they had such success, and such a victory at such a time, and thence infer, "Surely God is with us, and blesses and owns us," God will turn this glorying into shame when He blasts their success, and makes it manifest to all that though they have all outward means, yet they avail nothing. When the saints suffer any shame for God, they can glory. What the world accounts their shame is their glory; and that which the world judges to be their glory is their shame. The prophet is speaking here more especially of the priests. God casts shame upon wicked priests. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. WEB: As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.