Hosea 14 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Hosea

Chapter 14

Israel's Return and Restoration Through Repentance

Israel is called to return unto the LORD, taking words of confession and asking Him to take away all iniquity and receive them graciously. They will render the calves of their lips instead of relying on Assyria or horses or idols, finding mercy for the fatherless in God. The LORD will heal their backsliding and love them freely, becoming as dew so Israel grows as the lily with branches spreading and beauty as the olive tree. In restoration, Ephraim will have no more to do with idols, understanding that the ways of the LORD are right and the just walk in them.

Return and repentanceConfession of sinGod's free loveRestoration and growthForsaking idolatry

¹O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

²Take 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.

³Asshur 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.

⁴I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

⁵I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

⁶His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

⁷They 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.

⁸Ephraim 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.

⁹Who 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.