621. HOS 14:5, HOS 14:7. THE GLORY AND PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH

Hos_14:5, Hos_14:7. The Glory and Prosperity of the Church

By Rev. W. Hannah, D. D.

"I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."’97Hos_14:5, Hos_14:7.

Our text represents three things: first, the influence which God promises to his Church; secondly, the prosperity which his Church shall enjoy in consequence of that influence; and, thirdly, the subsequent extension of the Church in the world around it. Let us observe,

I. That spiritual influence which Almighty God here promises to his Church.

"I will be as the dew unto Israel,"’97a metaphor drawn from the oriental dews, which, in many respects, were remarkable; and which presented to the minds of the people in that country a very forcible view of that influence which was thus suggested. It is,

1. A copious influence. Oriental dews abound during the dry season, often supplying the place of rain, penetrating the sources of vegetable life, and being preeminently remarkable for copiousness and plenteousness’97a circumstance of the utmost importance to the prosperity of those countries; and exceedingly adapted, therefore, for the expression of this promise. It is,

2. A refreshing and renovating, influence which is promised here. The dews descending abundantly on those eastern countries, reached the very sources of vegetable life, spread a new balm and beauty over the whole scene, caused all things to revive, and flourish in new vigor. We are reminded of "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," Act_3:19 : an expression which, in our own day, particularly suggests this as something which shall refresh, strengthen, and invigorate that which is thirsty and faint. There you look for the influences which God has promised to bestow. They are not only copious enough to fill all your capacities; but are so refreshing as to change your own spiritual state, and give beauty, and glow, and glory to that which before was desert. It is, also,

8. A. fertilizing influence which God promises here. The design of all dew is to promote a greater measure of fertility. It is encouraging to know, that all the influence which God bestows, leads to the production of a spiritual and practical effort more eminently to advance the diffusion of his glory. If the Spirit descend copiously from on high, it is that converts may "spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses," Isa_44:4. If the Spirit descend, then will "the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest," Isa_32:15. All things flourish in new life, and in new fruitfulness.

4. It is silent and instantaneous, yet most mighty in its operations. Silence is the energy of God. Look around you at this season of the year. A short time since, all was the dreariness and desolation of winter: a mighty change is now transpiring all around us; every thing begins to wear the hue of beauty, thus proving a mighty change in the vegetable world. What has accomplished it? Has there been aught very noisy? aught very instantaneous? aught to strike men’s senses, or to attract especial observation? Nothing of the kind’97God has sent forth his own silent and pervading influence; he has penetrated the veil; he has changed the whole scene by his own silent energy; and he has given new life, and new beauty, and new glory. And may we not justly expect that he will proceed in the same way to pour out his influence on his church?

II. Our text has reference to the prosperity which the church shall enjoy in consequence of this influence.

And here the prophet, alluding to a tree, has drawn a beautiful representation of that sort of prosperity which we ought most earnestly to covet.

1. There is the fair promise of future fruit. "I will be as the dew unto Israel,"’97more literally, "I will be as blossom on the lily,"’97as a tree refreshed by the influence of spring; he shall put forth new blossoms, like the lily, so fair, so lovely: he shall yield promise of most encouraging and renovated life, and more abundant fertility.

2. But a growing stability in the life of God is a second part of this prosperity. "He shall cast forth"’97he shall strike’97"his roots like Lebanon." The allusion is to the cedars of Lebanon, remarkable for striking their roots deep, rising to an eminent height, becoming a monument of permanence and strength. If the prophet had mentioned the blossom merely, it might be thought he had mentioned what was very pleasing and very fair; but he passes to the growing stability of it. That church, thus flourishing in its new blossoms, shall, at the same time, strike deep its roots’97take further hold of the soul’97shall be more entirely rooted in "the truth as it is in Jesus."

3. An enlargement of existing members of the church in Divine grace, is a thorough proof of this prosperity. "His branches shall spread,"’97his branches shall go forward, increasing in size’97becoming more capable of leaf, and of fruit too. I cannot think that this applies to the accession of new members, so much as to the enlargement of members already existing’97their growth in the spiritual life. We sometimes love to select for contemplation, seasons when Christians have attained, by the power of God, a more eminent degree of Divine grace; when we may see them rising into their proper magnitude, conveying to us the lovely representation of what Christian men ought to be.

4. This prosperity discovers itself in the churches spirituality. "His beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon." When we speak of the fruits of Christian piety, we may not improperly distribute them into three classes: fruits of special devotedness to God; fruits of personal purity and circumspection; and fruits of practical charity, fruits of doing good to others. These fruits abound amidst the influence of God, when he pours forth the dew of his blessing. Another mark of this prosperity is,

5. The healing influence which a prosperous church diffuses; thus blooming, and taking new root, and enlarging her branches, and sustaining new fruit. The description closes with saying, "His smell shall be as Lebanon;"’97the fragrant influence shall spread itself from him as from the odoriferous plants and shrubs on Mount Lebanon. There shall be something inviting and healing in that influence which this prosperous church possesses. How fragrant is the influence of holy tempers, when all the man’s dispositions are involved with the influence he has received from on high! How fragrant are holy words, when a person’s conversation is with grace, and abundantly filled with that holy unction which descended from heaven! How fragrant are holy actions! It follows,

III. That there shall be an extension of the church.

1. By an accession of new members. "They that dwell under his shadow shall return," an expression somewhat ambiguous of meaning. The fact, doubtless, is, that many shall turn from their manifold wanderings, to dwell under the shadow of this prosperous church. The prophet may have had three classes of persons on his mind; at least, we may apply the expression to three classes.

The first constitutes the apostates from the truth.

The second class may comprehend those who are indifferent and careless. While the church is neglected these persons lay disregarded.

The third class embraces the distant pagans, whom the prophet seems more especially to have had in view. These neglect the church of the living God, when it is destitute of his blessing; but when it flourishes, then they, of every class and of every name, are ready to return to "dwell under its shadow," and the blessing of its protection. You have reason to expect this will be the case, if God shall prosper us by his own presence.

2. There shall be an increase of life in these new members of the church:’97"They shall revive as the corn." New life is given to them. At first, they appear naked and unpromising as the corn; they decayed and died like that corn; but, by the blessing of the God of grace, as well as of the God of providence, they revive; they live again as that corn; and, in connection with the living church, they possess its living influence. "They shall grow as the vine," another Scripture emblem of fertility, reviving in newness of life; they shall yield divine fruit, fruit correspondent to that of the true church of God; they shall flourish yet more and more, in all that shall bring glory to God and benefit to man.

3. They shall present an acceptable memorial to the God whom they have chosen. "And the scent thereof shall be as Lebanon;" or rather, "The memorial thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon," used in libation, poured forth as an acceptable offering upon the altar of God. These converts to the flourishing churches, growing in number and abounding in spiritual life, shall bring their offering as a memorial, and pour it forth on the altar. It shall be a memorial of themselves, presented as a libation to God; it shall be a memorial of their service, yielded without reserve, to him who has called them to glory and to virtue; it shall be the memorial of their gifts’97they yield to him what they have, as well as what they are: and each new memorial, poured forth on the altar of God, shall come up with acceptance in his sight. His dew gave the prosperity, which, spreading itself into this extension of blessings and hopes, shall be presented again back to God, holy and acceptable in his sight!

Application

1. We learn, from this subject, to repose our entire trust in God for the prosperity of the church. It is only when he becomes

"as the dew unto Israel," that Israel prospers. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but God alone can give the increase, 1Co_3:6.

3. The usual order of God’s proceedings, when he pours forth his blessings, is to give increased grace to his church. What does the revival of religion properly mean? Unquestionably, it properly and strictly means, something which re-lives in the church: the parched and withered field revives, lives again, when it is visited with the plentiful shower; long languishing and decaying, it lives again when the right appliances are used.

In conclusion. Let us learn to cherish the confident hope that God, even our God, will not forsake us. We may look east and west, and north and south, no human effort is able to withstand him who is God. Let a Christian man go forth, not in his own weakness, but relying on God’s power; let him go forth, filled with the spirit of prayer, and faith, and zeal; let him go forth, testifying his Lord and Saviour with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and we care not what class of people he may visit: be they ever so degraded, they shall be raised; be they ever so barbarous, they shall be renewed; be they ever so prejudiced, they shall be conquered; be they ever so alienated, they shall be restored. Let us go forward, trusting in God; let us trust in his blessing, and we shall find that barbarian, Scythian, bond, and free’97every country, and people, and tongue’97shall be ready to yield to an influence so especially proceeding from God’97shall turn to a flourishing church; and present the Christian memorial on their altar. And the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ shall bring salvation to all!

Autor: JABEZ BURNS