Homilist Hosea 5:13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb… Under a grievous sense of their disease and weakness, instead of applying to Jehovah, Ephraim and Judah went to the Assyrian, and sent to King Jareb. The Assyrian king was ever ready for his own aggrandisement to mix himself up with the affairs of neighbouring states. I. MEN ARE OFTEN MADE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL MALADY. Depravity is a disease of the heart. It impairs the energies, mars the enjoyments of the soul, and incapacitates it for the right discharge of the duties of life. A great point is gained when a man becomes conscious of his disease, and the sinner of his sin. II. MEN FREQUENTLY RESORT TO WRONG MEANS OF RELIEF. The Assyrians had neither the power nor the disposition to effect the restoration of Ephraim to political health. Sometimes men go — 1. To scenes of carnal amusement; or 2. To sceptical philosophisings; or 3. To false religions. These are all miserable comforters, broken cisterns. III. RESORTING TO WRONG METHODS OF RELIEF WILL PROVE UTTERLY INEFFECTIVE. What can worldly amusements, sceptical reasonings, and false religions do towards healing a sin-sick soul? Like anodyne, they may deaden the pain for a minute only, that the anguish may return with intenser acuteness. There is but one Physician of souls. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. |
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