Hosea 14: A Call to Repentance and a Promise of Restoration
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Hosea 14 is a powerful and poignant conclusion to the book, offering a clear pathway to restoration and blessing after the pronouncements of judgment. It is a chapter that resonates with hope, urging a return to the Lord and promising healing, love, and renewed favor. This chapter underscores the transformative power of repentance and the unwavering grace of God.
The Only Appropriate Response: Repentance (Hosea 14:1-3)
Hosea 14:1-3 lays bare the only fitting response to God's anger against sin: repentance. The call is clear: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity" (Hosea 14:1). This is not a mere suggestion, but a vital command. It’s a call to an "about face," a complete change of direction in life.
The passage instructs us to plead with God, acknowledging our sin and seeking His forgiveness. We are to take with you words and say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips" (Hosea 14:2). This verse highlights the futility of relying on anything but God for salvation. "Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘Our God.’ For in you the fatherless finds mercy" (Hosea 14:3). True salvation and deliverance come only from the Lord.
Healing, Love, and Blessing: God's Promise of Restoration (Hosea 14:4-7)
For those Israelites who repent and place their trust in God, He promises remarkable restoration. "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them" (Hosea 14:4). This is a powerful declaration of God's grace and willingness to forgive and heal. His anger, though justified, is not the final word. Love and restoration are available to those who turn back to Him.
The blessings of God will return, bringing flourishing and fruitfulness. The imagery is rich and evocative: "I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon" (Hosea 14:5-6). This paints a picture of abundant life, stability, and beauty, all stemming from God's presence and favor. Those who dwell again under his shadow, they shall flourish like a garden; will revive like grain, and blossom like the vine; its fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon (Hosea 14:7).
Understanding the Ways of the Lord (Hosea 14:8-9)
Hosea 14:9 serves as a concluding appeal to wisdom and understanding. "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." Hosea emphasizes that there is only one true path to life and blessing.
The ways of the Lord are right and just. To walk in them requires a transformation of our thinking, aligning our thoughts with His. This is what it means to have a kingdom mind – to view life from God's perspective, as revealed in His Word, and to live accordingly. A kingdom mindset is the differentiating factor between the righteous who walk in God's ways and the rebellious who stumble.
Hosea's message is timeless. Just as Hosea loved Gomer despite her unfaithfulness, God loves us despite our imperfections. We are invited to praise Him for His grace, turn to Him in repentance, and live for His glory. The choice is clear: embrace the ways of the Lord and experience life, or reject them and stumble in darkness.
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Hosea 14 is a powerful and poignant conclusion to the book, offering a clear pathway to restoration and blessing after the pronouncements of judgment. It is a chapter that resonates with hope, urging a return to the Lord and promising healing, love, and renewed favor. This chapter underscores the transformative power of repentance and the unwavering grace of God.
The Only Appropriate Response: Repentance (Hosea 14:1-3)
Hosea 14:1-3 lays bare the only fitting response to God's anger against sin: repentance. The call is clear: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity" (Hosea 14:1). This is not a mere suggestion, but a vital command. It’s a call to an "about face," a complete change of direction in life.
The passage instructs us to plead with God, acknowledging our sin and seeking His forgiveness. We are to take with you words and say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips" (Hosea 14:2). This verse highlights the futility of relying on anything but God for salvation. "Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘Our God.’ For in you the fatherless finds mercy" (Hosea 14:3). True salvation and deliverance come only from the Lord.
Healing, Love, and Blessing: God's Promise of Restoration (Hosea 14:4-7)
For those Israelites who repent and place their trust in God, He promises remarkable restoration. "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them" (Hosea 14:4). This is a powerful declaration of God's grace and willingness to forgive and heal. His anger, though justified, is not the final word. Love and restoration are available to those who turn back to Him.
The blessings of God will return, bringing flourishing and fruitfulness. The imagery is rich and evocative: "I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon" (Hosea 14:5-6). This paints a picture of abundant life, stability, and beauty, all stemming from God's presence and favor. Those who dwell again under his shadow, they shall flourish like a garden; will revive like grain, and blossom like the vine; its fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon (Hosea 14:7).
Understanding the Ways of the Lord (Hosea 14:8-9)
Hosea 14:9 serves as a concluding appeal to wisdom and understanding. "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." Hosea emphasizes that there is only one true path to life and blessing.
The ways of the Lord are right and just. To walk in them requires a transformation of our thinking, aligning our thoughts with His. This is what it means to have a kingdom mind – to view life from God's perspective, as revealed in His Word, and to live accordingly. A kingdom mindset is the differentiating factor between the righteous who walk in God's ways and the rebellious who stumble.
Hosea's message is timeless. Just as Hosea loved Gomer despite her unfaithfulness, God loves us despite our imperfections. We are invited to praise Him for His grace, turn to Him in repentance, and live for His glory. The choice is clear: embrace the ways of the Lord and experience life, or reject them and stumble in darkness.