i.3. _The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib: but Israel doth not know, my people do not consider._
It is clear from this chapter that the Lord views the sin of mankind
with intense regret. Israel in this case is not so much a type of
believers as a representative of sinners in general. The greatest
difficulty in the world is to make men think. Consider--
+I. The common but serious fault here condemned.+ Men are most
inconsiderate--1. Towards God;[1] 2. towards their own best
interests;[2] 3. towards the claims of justice and gratitude.[3]
+II. Some things that make the commonness of this fault surprising.+
1. Men live without consideration upon a matter in regard to which
nothing but consideration will avail. Nothing can stand in lieu of
thoughtfulness in religion. In regard to other matters we can employ
others to think for us. But in this matter we must think for
ourselves. Religion is a spiritual business, and if a man lives and
dies refusing to consider, he has put away from him all hope of being
saved; for grace comes not into us by mechanical process, but the
Holy Spirit works upon the mind and soul. 2. This inconsideration is
practised in regard to a subject the consideration of which would be
abundantly remunerative, and would lead to the happiest results.[4]
+III. Some of the aggravations which attend it.+ 1. It is fallen into
by those of whom better things might reasonably have been expected.
"_Israel_ doth not know, _my people_ doth not consider." It is not
the heathen who act more stupidly than the brutes, but those whom God
has called to Himself, on whom He has conferred light and knowledge,
&c. 2. They have had their attention earnestly directed to the topics
which they still neglect. 3. They have also been chastised, in the
gracious endeavour to arouse them from their thoughtlessness. 4. Many
of them are very zealous in regard to outward religion, as were those
whom the prophet rebuked. 5. They have been most earnestly and
affectionately invited to turn to God by gracious promises (such as
ver. 18). 6. They have ability enough to consider other things.
+IV. Some of the secret causes of this widespread fault.+ 1. In the
case of many thoughtless persons we must lay the blame to the sheer
_frivolity of their nature_. 2. In every case the bottom reason is
_opposition to God Himself_. 3. Upon some minds the tendency to
_delay_ operates fearfully. 4. Some make an excuse for themselves for
not considering eternity, because _they are such eminently practical
men_. They are living for realities of the nature of hard case, and
will not be induced to indulge in fancies and notions.[5] 5. Many are
_prejudiced,_ because some Christian professor has not lived up to
his profession, or they have heard something which is said to be the
doctrine of the gospel of which they cannot approve. 6. In most cases
men _do not like to trouble themselves,_ and they have an
uncomfortable suspicion that if they were to look too narrowly into
their affairs, they would find things far from healthy.[6]--_C. H.
Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit,_ vol. xviii. pp. 373-384.