Hosea 13:1-8
1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
He exalted himself in Israel,
But through Baal he incurred guilt and died.
2 And now they sin more and more,
And make for themselves cast metal images,
Idols skillfully made from their silver,
All of them the work of craftsmen.
They say of them, “Let the people who sacrifice kiss the calves!”
3 Therefore they will be like the morning cloud
And like dew which soon disappears,
Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor,
And like smoke from a chimney.
4 Yet I have been the Lord your God
Since the land of Egypt;
And you were not to know any god except Me,
For there is no savior besides Me.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness,
In the land of drought.
6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied,
And as they became satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore they forgot Me.
7 So I will be like a lion to them;
Like a leopard I will lie in wait by the wayside.
8 I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs,
And I will tear open their chests;
I will also devour them there like a lioness,
As a wild animal would tear them to pieces.
Imminent Judgement
The cause of the judgement (v 1-3)
In this passage, the judgment that is about to come upon Israel is prophesied. The cause of the judgment lies in Israel’s idolatry. (1) When Israel was following the Lord, it was a strong nation, and when Israel spoke, the surrounding nations trembled, as it says, “When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel.” (2) However, Israel, which had been a strong nation, fell into idolatry. They turned to Baal worship and also worshiped idols made by human hands. They cried out, “Let the people who sacrifice kiss the calves!” (3) Because of that sin, Israel will be destroyed. Expressions such as “like the morning cloud” and “like dew which soon disappears,” and “like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor,” all point to destruction through exile.
Warning to Israel (v 4-8)
Next, God issues a warning to Israel. (1) The God of Israel is the One who led the people of Israel out of Egypt. This God alone is the only One whom the people of Israel should worship. This is clearly stated in Exodus chapter 20. (2) Furthermore, it was the God of Israel who nourished the people of Israel in the wilderness. The people of Israel thought that Baal was the god who nourished them, but that was a complete misunderstanding. (3) The people of Israel became proud in heart and completely forgot the One who was sustaining them. Therefore, God will judge them. Here, three kinds of fierce beasts appear: a lion, a leopard, and a bear. All of these are connected with the beasts that appear in Daniel chapter 7 and Revelation chapters 13 and 17. The lion symbolizes Babylon, the leopard symbolizes Greece, and the bear symbolizes Medo-Persia. In other words, the Gentile nations will devour Israel. In terms of chronological order, Hosea is a prophet earlier than Daniel, but Hosea himself is also prophesying what Daniel would later prophesy in greater detail. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:2-3). Now, let’s remember this Scripture and worship the only God the Father of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, please help me so that when I receive blessings, I will not forget You or say, “Who is the Lord?” In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.