Hosea 13:9-16
9 It is to your own destruction, Israel,
That you are against Me, against your help.
10 Where then is your king,
That he might save you in all your cities;
And your judges, to whom you said,
“Give me a king and princes”?
11 I gave you a king in My anger,
And took him away in My wrath.
12 The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up;
His sin is stored up.
13 The pains of childbirth come on him;
He is not a wise son,
For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.
14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from death?
Death, where are your thorns?
Sheol, where is your sting?
Compassion will be hidden from My sight.
15 Though he flourishes among the reeds,
An east wind will come,
The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness;
And his fountain will become dry
And his spring will dry up;
It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
16 Samaria will pay the penalty for her guilt,
Because she has rebelled against her God.
They will fall by the sword,
Their children will be slaughtered,
And their pregnant women will be ripped open.
Israel Who Became Foolish
A child without wisdom (v 9-13)
Israel forgot that the God of Israel alone is the One who saves them. (1) If the God of Israel destroys them, no one can rescue them. The people of Israel once demanded and obtained a king against God’s intention, but now even that king is about to be taken away. (2) Their sins are all remembered by God. (3) They have become like a child who does not come out of the womb even when the time of birth has arrived. Such a child endangers not only its own life but also the life of its mother. In other words, the people of Israel had fallen into a state of such foolishness.
Hope in the Lord (v 14)
However, the people of Israel will not be completely destroyed. In verse 14, a future deliverance is prophesied: “Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? Death, where are your thorns? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.” The people of Israel will come to make a declaration of victory. That is the meaning of the words, “Death, where are your thorns? Sheol, where is your sting?”
Partial destruction
Nevertheless, judgment is about to come upon the people of Israel. (1) However, the destruction brought about by that judgment is partial. As it is said, “Though he flourishes among the reeds.” (2) The scorching wind blowing from the desert (the east wind) is likened to “the breath of the Lord.” By that scorching wind (the east wind), the land of Israel will dry up (that is, a famine will come). The east wind also refers to Assyria. The Lord is about to use Assyria to judge the people of Israel. The cause of the judgment lies in the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel. (3) Next, the fall of the capital, Samaria, is prophesied. “Samaria will pay the penalty for her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children will be slaughtered, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.” In Hosea chapters 4-13, prophecies of judgment coming upon Israel continued (the prophecy of the imminent Assyrian exile and the prophecy of the future time of tribulation. However, in the final chapter, chapter 14, Israel’s ultimate salvation is prophesied (we will study this next time). No matter what kind of hardship we may encounter, we have hope. What is necessary for us to rise up and receive the Lord’s blessing is repentance. The Lord of grace is waiting for His people to repent.
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, I thank You that hope remains at all times. Please help me to receive Your grace through repentance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.