Chapter 14: A CLOSING CALL TO RETURN, AND TO RECEIVE HEALING AND LOVE FROM GOD.
The abuse of God’s favour leads to punishment. (1-8)
Hosea’s prophetic ministry is closing with God’s call to Israel to repent and receive the grace of God. God is guiding them how to repent with words by giving them the exact content for the prayer they should say. This is not a ritualistic prayer. Just through vain repetition of this prayer will not bring God’s favor over Israel. A wise and prudent knowledge with understanding, that goes deeper into the heart for repentance is required by God.
An exhortation to repentance. (1-3):
V. 1… stumbled because of your iniquity… God is reiterating the reason for the pronounced impending judgement of God. It is their iniquity. Israel is called to repent from its iniquities. Jer. 15:19. Repentance and confession of sin are the keys to receive healing and love from God. This in line with what God has already spoken in Exodus 34:6,7.
V. 2a… Take words with you and return… This is a call to come up with a confession of sin and appeal to the grace of God, through sincere repentance. Their words they will speak out to God should come from the inner change.
Vs. 2b & 3… Say to Him… God, through Hosea, gives them the words for “repentance and confession” that the Israel should say before the Lord. The content of the repentance and confession should be around the content God has given here.
1. Take away all iniquity. Zechariah 3:9, 1 John 1:8-9, Hebrews 9:13-14, John 1:29
2. Receive us graciously. Lost sheep, son and coin. – John 6:37…
3. We will offer the sacrifices of our lips. Peace offering is mostly accompanying the Burnt offering. Peace offering is a feast to the forgiven sinner. On Calvary, Jesus offered Himself as the Burnt offering on behalf of us and we rejoice and give thanks to God, which is the peace offering, a table set by Jesus for us.
4. Assyria shall not save us. – Acts 4:12
5. We will not ride on horses. – Psalms 20:7
6. We will not say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘you are our gods.’ – Isaiah 48:2
7. For in You the fatherless finds mercy. – Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 2:9-10
Blessings promised, showing the rich comforts of the gospel. (4-8):
God is talking this passage with an assumption that Israel would repent. At the same time, God’s thoughts and Words always transcend the time in which He is speaking. This could be the prophecy which is yet to fulfill in the end time. But one thing is sure that if Israel seeks God’s face, they shall not seek it in vain. God will turn away His anger upon the repentance of Israel. When God loves, He loves freely and loves us to the end.
V. 4… heal their backsliding… God is WAITING for a sinner to repent, and He takes pleasure in our repentance (Parables of the lost sheep, son, and coin, Ezekiel 18:23).He is holding lots to shower on us as a process of RESTORATION. …love them freely… This doesn’t mean that God didn’t love Israel. His love is always for people. God’s wrath takes upper hand when a sinner does not repent and reject God. Upon repentance, God’s love for us becomes active.
The Beauty when God restores His people.
V.5-7…like dew to Israel… Dew in the morning is the beautiful thing which was one of the key sources of water for Israel. Many plants blossom with the dew only. RESTORATION OF GOD WILL BRING…
1. Fruitfulness – LILLY – Beauty and fruitfulness.
2. Stability – Roots like Lebanon… Cedar trees grow stable and spread out. Expansion of HIS Kingdom through HIS people.
3. Beauty – like an olive tree… Olive are the symbol of prosperity and power (Strength). – Ps. 52:8, Ps. 128:3.
4. Fragrance – Like Lebanon… David, Solomon and others talked about the fragrance of the Cedars of Lebanon, which is said to be a beautiful place in Israel. – Ps. 104:16.
V.8…I am like a green cypress tree… your fruit is found in MD… God Himself promises to be an evergreen place of shelter. God is promising Himself to the strength and full of life to Israel against what HE said in Hosea 5:12.
The just and the wicked. (9):
Christ is a Foundation Stone to some, to others a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence. That which was ordained to life, becomes, through their abuse of it, death to them. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. But those transgressors certainly have the most dangerous, fatal falls,… Let sinners in Zion fear this. May we learn to walk in the right ways of God, as his righteous servants, and may none of us be disobedient and unbelieving, and stumble at the Word.– Matthew Henry Concise Commentary.
God, through, Hosea, summarizes the message: the mail thing is to know God and His ways, to follow Him and so find righteousness, and to avoid paths that lead to destruction.