Hosea 10:1. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:
Not to his God. It matters not how much fruit we bear - if it is for self, we are really fruitless. A thing which is good in itself may lose all its goodness because stained with a selfish motive. We are to live unto God; and we must always be watchful about this; otherwise we may be doing much, and doing nothing. "Israel is an empty vine. He bringeth forth fruit unto himself."
Hosea 10:1. According to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
It is a very sad thing when, the more men received from God, the more they sin. But just in proportion as the land of Israel was fat and fertile, in that proportion did they set up altars unto false gods, and provoke the true God, who had given them these mercies. It is an ill thing when men grow rich, and offer sacrifice to their own vanity - when men gather learning, and only use it to debate with against the simple teachings of God - when just as God blesses, men cease to bless him!
Hosea 10:1. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:
Not to his God. It matters not how much fruit we bear - if it is for self, we are really fruitless. A thing which is good in itself may lose all its goodness because stained with a selfish motive. We are to live unto God; and we must always be watchful about this; otherwise we may be doing much, and doing nothing. "Israel is an empty vine. He bringeth forth fruit unto himself."
Hosea 10:1. According to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
It is a very sad thing when, the more men received from God, the more they sin. But just in proportion as the land of Israel was fat and fertile, in that proportion did they set up altars unto false gods, and provoke the true God, who had given them these mercies. It is an ill thing when men grow rich, and offer sacrifice to their own vanity - when men gather learning, and only use it to debate with against the simple teachings of God - when just as God blesses, men cease to bless him!