Hosea 14

A call to repentance, the promise of blessing

O Israel,

return to the LORD your God,

for you have stumbled

by your wickedness.

2 Take with you words,

and turn to the LORD. Say to him,

“Take away all guilt,

and receive us graciously,

that we may offer the praise

of our lips like the sacrifice of calves.

14:2 Hosea by God’s Spirit is so eager for their repentance he gives them the very words they should say.⚜

3 Assyria will not save us.

We will not ride on horses,

nor will we any longer say to

the work of our hands,

‘You are our gods’,

for in you the fatherless finds mercy”.

14:3 They should realize that their trust must not be in men, or in false gods or idols, and turn to the true Helper of needy men (compare Hos 13:9).⚜

4 “I will heal their backsliding.

I will love them freely.

For my anger has turned away

from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.

He will grow like the lily,

and thrust out his roots

like a cedar of Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,

and his beauty will be like

the olive tree,

and his fragrance like

a cedar of Lebanon.

7 Those who dwell under his shade

will return.

They will come alive like the grain,

and grow like the vine;

their renown will be like

the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim will say,

‘What have I to do any more

with idols?’

I have heard him,

and observed him.

I am like a green fir tree.

Your fruit comes from me”.

14:4-8 God speaks these words through Hosea. When Israel turns to God and prays according to the words of vs 2, 3, God will hear them and restore them. See Lev 26:40-45; Deut 4:29-31. Verses 5-7 give a beautiful poetic picture of this restoration. Compare Isa 27:3-6; 32:15-18; 35:1-2.⚜

9 Who is wise? He will understand

these things. Who is discerning?

He will know them.

For the ways of the LORD

are right,

and the just will walk in them,

but the transgressors will fall in them.