Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. When we read the book of Hosea,
we can see illustrated most clearly the Lord's determined purpose
to manifest His love for His bride and His determination to
justly punish sin. We marvel at Hosea's faithfulness
and provision to an unfaithful wife, yet we are completely dumbfounded
when we realize that the Lord used him to illustrate His own
utter faithfulness to that bride of His choosing, who has not
only been unfaithful but has despised His overtures of kindness.
For when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ
died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, and that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then,
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life. Ephraim was one of Joseph's two
sons, which were born unto him in Egypt, by the daughter of
an idolatrous heathen priest. It appears that Jacob considered
them as his own sons by adoption, as he did in a measure remove
his blessing from Reuben and Simeon, giving it unto Ephraim
and Manasseh. Though Manasseh was Joseph's
firstborn son, it was unto Ephraim, the second son, to whom the greatest
blessing came. In this we are reminded that
the blessings of God to his children have not come unto them through
the first Adam, but through the last. And so it is written, the
first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made
a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which
is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that
which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth,
earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. We see the
name of Ephraim mentioned 37 times in the book of Hosea. He
is an illustration of the carnal fleshly man who is nonetheless
made as a vessel of honor in the sight of God, and whom the
Lord would ultimately bless with deliverance, as he has made his
elect subject unto vanity. The children of God cannot be
differentiated from the rest of the world, as all men are
born into this world in the weakness of natural flesh. Apart from
the grace of God which sets them apart in Christ, as a people
chosen in Him from before the foundation of the world, they
would surely arrive at the same destination as those who are
appointed unto wrath. This fulfills the purpose of
God in demonstrating His everlasting love for those who are His, and
upon whom He would be pleased to grant salvation which is purchased
by the precious blood of Christ. When they are born again by the
Spirit of God, and indwelt by Him, they are made new creatures.
Old things are passed away, and all things become new. Yet their
flesh remains as it was when they were born, a rebel against
God, and opposed to all that is good. Yet now this new man
is no longer in bondage to his flesh, but rather the Spirit
works in him and wars against the flesh, which would daily
desire to bring him back into that bondage. A desperate struggle
ensues, and it is sometimes not apparent who the victor will
be. Yet such is the grace of God, that he will preserve that
work which he has begun, and will not forsake that which is
his. Thus we see Ephraim described
in the book of Hosea as joined to idols, committing whoredom,
and oppressed and broken in judgment. He is likened unto a cake not
turned, which denotes his unsuitableness, like as a cake which is burned
and inedible. He is called a silly dove, who
seeks out help from Egypt and winds up in servitude to Assyria.
He stupidly makes the same mistakes over and over again and brings
upon himself bondage and fear. The chastisement of the Lord
is continually upon Ephraim, because whom the Lord loveth,
he chasteneth. His rod and his staff are their
comfort, even though for the present no chastening seemeth
to be joyous, but afterwards yieldeth its perfect fruit. The
Lord will keep his children from falling, even though he may lay
his hand heavily upon them. He will deal with the iniquities
of those whom he loves. Every branch that beareth fruit,
he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. We can see
quite plainly throughout the book the utter unsuitableness
of Ephraim to the kingdom of God. He has nothing in himself
that would serve as a recommendation thereto, and if he should gain
anything, it would have to be by the mercy of God. This is
exactly what we see occurring as the Lord hides his sin. "'The
iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hid. "'And I will
strengthen the house of Judah, "'and I will save the house of
Joseph. "'And I will bring them again to place them, "'for I
have mercy upon them, "'and they shall be as though I had not
cast them off. "'For I am the Lord, their God, and will hear
them. "'And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, "'and their
heart shall rejoice as through wine. "'Yea, their children shall
see it and be glad. "'Their heart shall rejoice in
the Lord.'" For a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts,
send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.