Hosea 13:9

Hosea 13:9 says, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.  God tells Israel in no uncertain terms that they had destroyed themselves.  When we are out of God's will, we are setting ourselves up for the destruction of our works.  God reminded them that He was the true source of their help.  God stands ready to help us today if we only acknowledge Him as the Lord of our lives. This does not mean parts of our lives, but every aspect of our lives.  Verse ten adds, I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?  God was to be their King, but the people of God wanted an earthly king that they could follow, and that had now led to a divided kingdom and a rejection of God.  No matter where we live in the world today, God must be our King, the One Who directs our lives.  Verse eleven God continues, I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.  An earthly king was never what God intended for His people, but He allowed them to select one, and they chose wrong from the start.  Today, if we live where we really have a choice, we need to select leaders under God's guidance if we are followers of Christ.  Verse twelve states, The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.  God may not have yet acted to punish them for their sins, but the sins were not forgotten.  Sin can only be dealt with when we ask God's forgiveness for it.  Though we may prosper while sinning and think we have gotten away with it God binds sin up to be dealt with ultimately.  Verse thirteen adds, The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.  A woman who is expecting a baby knows that eventually the birth of the baby will bring pain to her.  I believe Hosea was telling God's people that sin was the same way.  Sin would result in pain, and for that reason alone it made no sense to remain under the power of sin.  This has not changed today.  Verse fourteen continues, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.  God promised a way to overcome the penalty of sin, which was death, everlasting spiritual separation from God.  We know through Christ God fulfilled that promise.  We must simply repent of our sins and accept God's gift of salvation by faith.  Verse fifteen says, Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.  God's people might have been prosperous while worshipping other gods, but it was temporary.  We may feel that we are doing so great in life that we don't need God, but if we are not following His will for our lives, it is only a temporary success.  Verse sixteen adds, Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.  God had been the source of the success of His people, and due to their rebellion, He was removing His protection, and they would be destroyed. We as followers of Christ are protected by God's power, and as long as we remain faithful to Him, we can never be spiritually destroyed, no matter what happens to us in this life.