In Hosea 13 we see that when Ephraim spake, there was trembling, so exalted was he in Israel: “When He offended in Baal, he died. And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen; they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves” (vss. 1-2). Hence was so great a change, and the downfall of his power; their prosperity was as evanescent as the lightest things men speak of in proverbs. Yet again Jehovah reminds them of His relation to them from the beginning. Himself the only true God and Savior. His very mercy was too much for them. He should now show Himself an avenger (vss. 7-8). Truly, as it is so earnestly put, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help” (vs. 9) The sovereign grace of God is the only hope and help for His sinful people. Of this Israel will reap the benefit, as we are doing.
God, the Resource of Those Who Have Destroyed Themselves Like Israel
Where was now their king to save? where their judges? Alas! the words recall another early history of sin and rebellion and of God’s displeasure. Yet Ephraim clung only to his sin (vs. 12), hid instead of confessing it. The very patience of God only makes the blow the more sudden and felt when it falls. What folly not to come forth when safety depends on promptness! But man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, who will deliver when all hope is gone. How unlike the king whom He gave once in wrath, who brought them into such a state of degradation that they could not even sharpen the mattock in the land of Israel, but were obliged to their bitterest enemies for the barest means of subsistence! Jehovah assuredly will take the matter in hand, and then not merely their enemies, but death and the grave would be put down. Let them summon plagues and array pestilence as they may, Jehovah will conquer on behalf of His people.
The Assyrian to Fall Himself at the Last
To apply this to anything past in Israel’s history is extravagantly poor. But it is a mistake to think that they will not be accomplished magnificently in Israel’s future deliverance. Gentile “conceit,” as the Apostle warns in Romans 11, easily falls into such oversight, in its eagerness to take all the blessings to itself, leaving all the curses, and only these, to Israel. The New Testament gives a still richer turn, and reads a deeper truth in the words; but this in no way warrants our alienating the ancient people of God in the latter day from their predicted blessing through Jehovah’s grace, when our Lord reigns, the all-conquering King of Israel, Jesus the Christ. Deliverance will come when the last Assyrian, the king of the north of Daniel, strikes his last blow—not as of old carrying off the people, but himself falling far more miserably than Samaria then met her punishment at his hands.