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ACKNOWLEDGE NO SAVIOR EXCEPT ME

Hosea 13:1-16

“But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.” (4)

First, like the early dew (1-3). Ephraim was once powerful and greatly blessed. But when they turned to idol-worship, they became objects of God’s anger. Their idolatry spread to the extent that they offered their children as human sacrifices and kissed the calf-idols (2). Therefore, they would disappear like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling on the threshing floor and smoke escaping through a window (3). One thing is certain: If we follow other gods or worship idols, we will not be blessed. The blessed life is the life of worshiping the one true God and Jesus Christ his Son.

Second, I am the LORD your God (4-16). God was the only Savior for Israel and Ephraim. He is the one true God and the Savior for His people. He led them through the burning desert and gave them water from the rock. But when they were satisfied, they forgot God and became proud. Therefore, the LORD God would be like a lion to devour them (7). Hosea compares them to a child that does come to the opening of the womb when his time has arrived. Samaria would have to bear their guilt because they had rejected God’s love over and over again.

Still, God loved them and wanted to save them. He promised to ransom them from the power of the grave. The words in verse 14 are echoed by Paul and look forward to Jesus’ victory over the grave. “Where O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” Jesus has conquered sin and death. Death has been swallowed by the power of his resurrection. 

Father God, thank you for delivering me from my sins and from the grave through Jesus my Redeemer.

One Word: God alone saves!