Deliverance? God, Only God
But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the Lord their God, I will not deliver them by bow, nor by sword, nor by war, nor by horses, nor by horsemen. (Hosea 1:7)
Hosea 1:1-7; I Sam. 17:45; Ps. 20; Pr. 3:5-6; Isa. 12:2, 31:1; I Cor. 12:9; Eph. 3:6
What Is God Saying?
Hosea has been called the Jeremiah of the North. He prophesied in Israel calling the nation to repentance as Jeremiah did in the South (Judah). While his principal focus was the unfaithfulness of Israel, he occasionally refers to Judah. Incredibly, Israel had forsaken the God of their fathers even to the extent of setting up two golden calves, one at Bethel and one at Dan (I Kings 12:29). The situation was desperate. This reference to Judah is like a warning, almost a pleading with the neighboring Kingdom of God's people, ‘Don't lose your trust in the absolute power of God to save you without any help from armies or weapons.’
Israel had departed from God, ‘beyond the point of pity,’ but there was a window of opportunity for Judah. They could trust wholly in God and rely on His mercy. He, and He alone would save them. It was like an aside from his main message as if to say, Look, see what has happened to the God-forsaking people of this nation. Don't let it happen to you and it won't if you trust God all the way. Don't put your trust in armies and weapons. God alone is sufficient (Psalm 20).
How Does This Apply To Us?
Our God is not a god of pantheism which is bound in and bound by the things He created. Nor is He reduced to the level of things brought about by man's fears and hatreds such as armies and weapons. We have great meaning to God. He loves us greatly and has given us great things to do. God is before all, under all, over all, through all, and after all. Paul reminds us that ‘we have one God and Father of us all who is (not only) through all and in all, (but also) above all (Eph. 3:6). Deliverance from sin, recovery of peace, joy of salvati0n, and peace that passes all understanding. Every hunger and need is met and satisfied in this promise of God, ‘I will deliver them.’
Pray With Me
Lord, You are strong to deliver. In Your salvation is our only sure defence. I would live by the faith that man plus God is more than a match for all that men can do against men. I would place all my hope in who You are. I would put my confidence in Your promise to deliver. ‘Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.’ In my trials sustain me, O God, and from my burdens deliver me. I seek no other escape. I look for no other help. I take to my heart the promise, ‘I will deliver them by the Lord their God.’ With Your promise, I rise to strength and joy and everlasting victory.
Through Jesus Christ who said, ‘Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world.’ Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Kneeling before God in the spirit of prayer is to know the source of true strength and peace. It is knowing where to go and what to say in any fiery furnace experience, ‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us (Dan 3:17).’ It is the time to depend only on God, His mercy, His power, His deliverance. Pray that way. Stay that way.
