Homilist Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to your mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant… These words are singularly abrupt, and indicate the suddenness of the threatened invader. By "the house of the Lord" we are to understand Israel as a section of the professed people of God. I. AS ENDANGERED. How comes the eagle? Ravenously, suddenly, and swiftly. A conventional Church is in greater danger than any secular community, because — 1. Its guilt is greater. 2. Its influence is more pernicious.Whose influence on society is the most baneful — the man who denies God, the man who ignores Him, or the man who misrepresents Him? The conventional Church gives society a mal-representation of God and His religion. II. AS WARNED. Blow a blast that shall thrill every heart in the vast congregation of Israel. Why sound the warning? 1. Because the danger is tremendous. 2. Because the danger is at hand. 3. Because the danger may be avoided.What is wanted now is a ministry of warning to conventional Churches. III. AS REPENTANT. "Israel shall cry unto Me, My God, we know Thee." Oh hasten the day when all conventional Churches shall be brought to a deep and experimental knowledge of God and His Son! when this transpires the dense cloud that has concealed the sun of Christianity shall be swept away, and the quickening beam shall fall on every heart. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. |
    |