Overview
Hosea 14 serves as a concluding chapter with a heartfelt plea for repentance and promises of healing and restoration. The chapter begins with an appeal to Israel to return to the Lord, confess their sins, and seek His forgiveness. The plea for repentance is accompanied by a promise that God will heal their waywardness and love them freely. The chapter portrays a beautiful image of Israel blossoming like a lily and taking root like the trees of Lebanon, symbolizing growth and stability. God promises that those who dwell under His shadow will flourish like the grain and blossom like the vine. The imagery of dew, gardens, and cedar trees is used to depict the blessings and prosperity that will come with repentance. The chapter underscores the futility of relying on idols or human power for salvation. The focus is on the transformative power of God's mercy and grace upon a truly repentant people. The book concludes with a wise admonition that the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble.
Hosea 14
1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 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.
3 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.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
End of Hosea 14
1 Year Plan: Dec 7 - Hos 14; Joe 1, Rev 5
2 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.
3 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.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
End of Hosea 14
1 Year Plan: Dec 7 - Hos 14; Joe 1, Rev 5
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