CHAPTER 14
(725 B.C.)
ISRAEL INTREATED TO RETURN TO GOD
1O Israel, return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity. (This Chapter is the presentation of a glorious Altar Call. In fact, it also tells of Israels Restoration in a coming Glad Day, but which could have taken place in Hoseas time or any time forward, if Israel had only repented. The Lord is always ready to receive all who come to Him. He will always do so, gladly, kindly, and with open arms. He offers no condemnation, only acceptance.)
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. (Divine Love provides the fitting words for the truly repentant tongue. Take with you words, in essence, says, Not sacraments, not ceremonies, but words.
Turn to the LORD, proclaims the fact that these words are not to be taken to men, but rather to the Lord.
The phrase, Say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, presents what these words ought to be.
And receive us graciously, refers to the fact that we are saved by Grace through Faith, it is the Gift of God [Eph. 2:8-9]. Grace is simply the goodness of God extended to undeserving people. It is received, whether by the sinner or the Saint, by Faith evidenced in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross. In fact, the Cross is what makes the Grace of God [the Goodness of God] available to all.
So will we render the calves of our lips, refers to Sacrifice, and, in reality, the Sacrifice of the Cross. In essence, we are to thank the Lord for saving us, and that it was made possible by and through the Cross.)
3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods: for in You the fatherless find mercy. (Asshur shall not save us, pertains to the fact that man cannot save man. The phrase, We will not ride upon horses, means that we will not trust in what man can do. For in You the fatherless find mercy, refers to Israel as Lo-ruhamah [no more mercy] and Lo-ammi [not My people]. Despite these facts, the Lord says that if Israel [or anyone, for that matter] will truly turn to Him, He will receive and accept them [Eph. 2:13-18].)
RESTORATION; THE PROMISE OF GODS BLESSING
4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for My anger is turned away from him. (The Divine response of Verses 4 through 8 exhibits the moral result of true conversion.)
5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (The dew speaks of the Holy Spirit, the lily speaks of Righteousness, and the roots of Lebanon speak of ones place and position in Christ. All of this awaits the believing sinner!)
6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. (His branches shall spread, speaks of Spiritual Growth. And his beauty shall be as the olive tree, speaks of fruit. The phrase, And his smell as Lebanon, proclaims the fact that certain types of trees emit aromas which repel all insects and reptiles. Spiritually, it speaks of protection from the powers of darkness by Faith in Christ and His Cross [Rom. 6:3-5].)
7They who 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. (This Verse speaks of Israel restored and now reigning supreme in the coming Kingdom Age.)
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 your fruit found. (This Verse may be thus displayed:
Ephraim, What have I to do any more with idols?
Immanuel, I have heard him and observed him.
Ephraim, I am like a green fir tree.
Immanuel, Yes, but remember that from Me is your fruit found.
The question concerning Ephraim, What have I to do any more with idols?, is a full, final, and forever renunciation of idolatry.)
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. (This Verse forms the epilogue to the whole Prophecy. Gods Way of Salvation is a stepping stone to the Believer, but a stumbling stone to the unbeliever. Christ is a Rock of defense to the one, but a Rock of offense to the other [I Cor. 1:23].)