1 An exhortation to repentance. 4 A promise of God’s blessing.
Hos 14:1 Return, Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
Return. Chapter 14 is a fitting climax to the message of Hosea. The prophet makes one last appeal to his people to forsake their iniquity and turn to the Lord. It was not yet too late. But the day of opportunity was fast slipping away.
The war clouds were darkening on the eastern horizon. Assyria was at the zenith of its power and its imperialistic ambitions were soon to engulf the idol-mad, vice-intoxicated nation of Israel. Inasmuch as the prophetic ministry of Hosea extended to the reign of Hezekiah (ch. 1:1) and the fall of Samaria came in the 6th year of that king’s reign (2 Kings 18:9, 10), it is possible that this final message was delivered shortly before the final day of doom.
Since the individual messages of the book are not dated, it is impossible to fix precisely the exact dates of the various messages.
Hos 14:2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
Take words with you.
Probably an allusion to the requirement of the Mosaic law that “none shall appear before me empty” (Ex. 23:15). The people might have expected that as an accompaniment of their return the Lord would require animal sacrifices or material gifts. But the prophet calls for neither of these.
A simple plea for mercy accompanied by heartfelt repentance and confession is all that the Lord requires (see on Ps. 32:1).
“Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
Once forgiven it is no longer reckoned to the sinner’s account (see on Ps. 32:2).
Hos 14:3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” The people make a pledge with regard to three of their outstanding sins. On expecting help from Assyria see chs. 5:13; 7:11.
On trusting in the horses and chariots of Egypt see Hosea 7:11; cf. Isa. 31:1.
On the sin of idolatry see Hosea 13:2; cf. Isa. 42:17.
Hos 14:4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. God responds to the penitential prayer.
Waywardness, backsliding is here regarded as a disease. Only the divine Physician can heal the maladies of the soul (see Jer. 8:22; Matt. 9:12).
Waywardness. Heb. meshubah, from the root shub, “to turn,” “to turn back,” hence, “backturning.” Love them freely. When sins are forgiven and the righteousness of Christ covers the sinner, then, sinful though he may have been, he is accepted before God as if he had never sinned. His past record of sins is in no wise held against him, and God loves him as He loves His own Son (see SC 67).
Hos 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Hos 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; The roots of the lily are weak, and hence not a suitable figure of Ephraim’s promised stability.
Hos 14:6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
The olive has been called the crown of the fruit trees of Palestine. It was especially valuable. Its oil was used as food and provided light. Its fruitage, so plentiful and useful, its green, so splendid, and its foliage, so enduringly fresh, provided a vivid picture of Ephraim’s glorious prospect.
Hos 14:7 People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine— Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Through Hosea the Lord endeavored to make the outlook appear as appealing as possible in the hope that the invitation might not be refused. The appeal constitutes a fitting climax to the book.
Hos 14:8 Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.
The issue was thus clearly placed before the Israelites. Two courses lay before them. They could either continue in their wicked ways and reap the inevitable results, or they could turn wholeheartedly to God and obtain salvation.
The Lord’s ways, being upright and unchangeable, will be accomplished despite what men might do (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). If they are lost the blame will rest with them, for God has confronted them with every inducement to follow the way of right.
My dear precious friends. God is waiting for our response. I, one of the weakest sinner,
Wants to accept the invitation of yielding my hopeless to our loving, forgiving God.
Would you like to join me in this yielding to God?