Hosea Chapter 14
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. "Return, O Israel, to the Lord
your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity."
God tenderly calls to His people Israel:
"Return" to Me. Come back – you have fallen because of your sins, but I
love you and will bring you home. Just like in this book (Hosea), where
God gave His people the parable of marriage of Gomer to Hosea (Chapter 1
& forward), Jesus gave us many. Within a nation of many shepherds, He
said "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loves one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one
which is lost until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4).
Many of us have been that little sheep in
the wilderness, who has stumbled in life and feels completely alone. You
are not alone for the Lord is with you and shall be IN each one who
trusts in Him. Jesus concluded the parable by saying, "there will be
more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
upright persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). God loves the
upright person but "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) and there
is much rejoicing in heaven when that sinner comes home.
Verse 2. "Take words with you and return
to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity and receive us
graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.’"
The Bible was written by many prophets of
God. The Lord gave them words for us, that we might be brought to Him.
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm
119:105). "The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). "Having been born again, not of
corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives
and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23). The Word of God will bring you to
the Son of God.
The phrase "take away all iniquity and
receive us graciously" speaks of repentance. John the Baptist said
"Repent" because they would soon see Jesus (Matthew 3:2). Jesus said to
them "repent", from the start of His ministry on earth (Mathew 4:17).
Peter shouted "Repent", right after the birth of the Church (Acts 2:38).
To "repent" is to let the sin be cleansed out of us, that the King of
Glory may come in. And when He does, you will reasonably give Him the
fruit of your lips, which is to praise His Holy Name.
Verse 3. "Assyria will not save us, we
will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, ‘Our god,’ to the work
of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy.’"
Israel had become an industrious nation,
skilled in manufacturing, trade, and political alliances. They made many
treaties with Assyria, the nation that would destroy them. "Horses"
likely referred to Egypt, for Israel had many trade and political
relationships with that nation of horses. Israel had become an "orphan"
nation by their own choice, for they had left their Father, the Lord God
who created them, and said "our god" to things they had created with
their own hands.
There are many recurring themes in
Scripture, but one of the most consistent is God’s promise of love for
the widow, the orphan, and the "stranger" in our midst. In a later time,
Jesus’ disciples were very troubled by His statements that He would soon
be killed. They did not want to be left alone. In that context, He said
to them, as He says to you and me, "I will not leave you orphans; I will
come to you" (John 14:18). In Him, you will find the mercy of God.
Verse 4. "I will heal their apostasy, I
will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them."
Notice the change in tone in this
Chapter. In the other thirteen Chapters of Hosea, the emphasis is on
Judgment, with sprinkles of mercy here and there. This Chapter is
precisely the opposite, with Mercy everywhere, and just the hint of
judgment. The purpose in judgment is healing. God will ultimately
prevent you from prospering in your sin, for He longs to turn you from
apostasy (falling away from Him) and to bring you into His arms, that He
might love you openly and freely.
Once judgment has accomplished its work,
it is suddenly done and gone, for God does not delight in your
suffering. David, who knew both the judgment and the forgiveness of God,
said "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning"
(Psalm 30:5). David was a bold, open man, who sinned, regretted it
deeply, and returned to the Lord. The trouble that inevitably came to
him, only lasted until he saw his need for repentance; then he was
FORGIVEN, and joy filled his life once more.
Verse 5. "I will be like the dew to
Israel; he will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the
cedars of Lebanon."
There was comparatively little rain in
Israel – a rainy season each year, and then it was dry again. The dew
was all important to the people of such a place, for it provided that
extra bit of moisture which contributed to the harvest. They trapped as
much water in cisterns as possible during the rainy time, but the
growing things needed more, just as we need more than our efforts can
bring us.
Jesus spoke about lilies in the Sermon on
the Mount (Matthew 10:28), that they don’t grow through self-effort –
actually they don’t do anything; they just grow. So it would be for
Israel. Previously they had been industrious and their efforts would
turn to – destruction. But now judgment was upon them and all their
previous efforts would be lost. But they would "blossom like the lily"
and become deep rooted like the cedar trees in Lebanon. For the Lord
would make it so.
Verse 6. "His shoots will sprout, and his beauty will be like the
olive tree and his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon."
You will be made new in Christ Jesus. Just like the new green growth
on a spring day, you will be made new. Inside, in Christ, you will be
changed, and then, not so far in the future when you are caught up to be
with Him, you’ll be beautiful both on the outside and inside as well.
Jesus Christ will take the people Israel and those others who trust in
Him, and give us a whole new life – forever (John 3:16).
And this will be no ordinary life. This will be LIFE in the Spirit of
God. Last year, when we were in Jerusalem, we saw olive trees that were
2,000 years old. They had multiple gnarled trunks and some of the
branches were gone, but others had taken their place, and they bore
fruit in season. They were – beautiful! There is a "fragrance" to the
Holy Spirit of God in a person, not unlike the smell of a cedar chest.
We are made beautiful in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Verse 7. "Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain, and
they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of
Lebanon."
There is a time in life when we think we can do ANYTHING, but the
storms of life come, our "grain" becomes withered in the field, and we
see our need of Him. Israel is a desert land where it is good to be in
the shadow of that which is larger than we are, and we learn, "He who
dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the
Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). We need safety and we need shelter from the
storm. He provides abundantly for our every need.
When we return to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the "grain" is
again ripe within us, and we blossom as does the vine. In Him, we become
like a fine wine that all agree is sweet to the taste. Don’t look at the
outside of your life anymore. Don’t regard your failures or defeats.
Look to Christ, live in His protection, receive His Holy Spirit, and you
will be like the "wine of Lebanon" – beautiful in the sight of our God.
Verse 8. "O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who
answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; from Me comes
your fruit."
There will be a time when idolatry in all of its forms will be done
away in this earth. No more will we prefer our jobs, our computers,
television sets, cameras, fishing rods, and who knows what else, to the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus. To the question, "O Ephraim
(Israel), what more have I to do with idols?", the answer will be
"Nothing," for idolatry will be gone from His people.
Is there any good thing in you? That is, do you speak well, or run
well, or are you good looking? Are you a good "catch", for a job or in a
marriage? The fruit of what and who you are, whether physical or
spiritual or mental, is from God. It is He who looks after you and
answers your need, even when you don’t ask. He is like a great "Tree"
that provides all you need and more. From Him "comes your fruit."
Verse 9. "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 righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in
them."
Do you think you’re wise? Whether you do or not, listen to these
three things (for you will be wise if you do): 1) The ways of the Lord
are right. His way is revealed in this Book that is called the Holy
Bible, and if you prayerfully read His Word, you will be turned to that
which is GOOD in life. You may think you’re "righteous", but the test of
your righteousness is in the Word of God.
2) Through Christ and what He has done for us, "many will be made
righteous" (Romans 5:19). There is no other way. When we receive Christ,
we receive His Holy Spirit and righteousness comes into that person. 3)
But if we continue in transgression (sin), "the ways of the Lord" will
be a stumbling block to us. In Deuteronomy 32:4, we are taught, "His
work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and
without injustice; righteous and upright is He". Turn to Him and to His
ways today, and you will abundantly LIVE in the sight of God.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
