flower,' is madness and sin. Into every life thus turned to the
perishable will come the crash of the destroying storm, the mutterings
of which might reach the ears of the feasters, if they were not drunk
with the fumes of their deceiving delights. Only one kind of life has
its roots in that which abides, and is safe from tempest and change.
Amaranthine flowers bloom only in heaven, and must be brought thence, if
they are to garland earthly foreheads. If we take God for ours, then
whatever tempests may howl, and whatever fragile though fragrant joys
may be swept away, we shall find in Him all that the world 'fails to
give to its votaries. He is 'a crown of glory' and 'a diadem of beauty.'
Our humanity is never so fair as when it is made beautiful by the
possession of Him. All that sense vainly seeks in earth, faith finds in
God. Not only beauty, but 'a spirit of judgment,' in its narrower sense
and in its widest, is breathed into those to whom God is 'the master
light of all their seeing'; and, yet more, He is strength to all who
have to fight. Thus the close union of trustful souls with God, the
actual inspiration of these, and the perfecting of their nature from
communion with God, are taught us in the great words, which tell how
beauty, justice, and strength are all given in the gift of Jehovah
Himself to His people.

II. The prophet turns to Judah (vs. 7-13), and charges them with the
same disgusting debauchery. His language is vehement in its loathing,
and describes the filthy orgies of those who should have been the guides
of the people with almost painful realism. Note how the words 'reel' and
'stagger' are repeated, and also the words 'wine' and 'strong drink.' We
see the priests' and prophets' unsteady gait, and then they 'stumble' or
fall. There they lie amid the filth, like hogs in a sty. It is very
coarse language, but fine words are the Devil's veils for coarse sins;
and it is needful sometimes to call spades spades, and not to be ashamed