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Hosea 14 (ESV)

1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
² Take with you words
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.
³ Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”

⁴ I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
⁵ I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
⁶ his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
⁷ They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

⁸ O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.

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 upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

 

REFLECTION:

• This chapter is the most beautiful chapter in the whole Book of Hosea, and it is also a perfect conclusion. This chapter is divided into two sections: verses 1 to 3 are the call of the prophet: to persuade the people of Israel to return to the Lord and give them a prayer of repentance; verses 4 to 8 are the answer of the Lord: with precious promises and assurances.
• The Israelites should be aware that the greatest obstacle between God and them is sin. They fell because of their sins. The solution was not to rely on sacrifices or offerings, but to return to God from the bottom of their hearts, and they were to make a promise which includes the following three aspects:
  1. Ask God to forgive and remove their iniquity (2). On the positive side, do according to God’s instructions. Obedience is better than sacrifice (cf. 6:6).
  2. Do not rely on political or military power, but rely on God (3). Assyria cannot save, and victory does not depend on horses and chariots. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6)
  3. No longer call idols gods (3), no longer worship and serve Baal.
• These three aspects were the problems that Israel faced at that time, and believers today should have the same attitude and aspirations. God is willing to show grace to people. He affirms His love for His people; they will be healed when they return. Under God’s care and blessing, Israel will prosper and flourish (5-7).

 

PRAYER:

Pray that the loving Father will heal your spiritual sickness. Turn to God from the bottom of your heart, and to make a vow to stay away from sins, to rely solely on God, and to renounce all tangible and intangible idols.

 

HYMN: