CHAPTER 14

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take 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. 3 Asshur 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.

This final chapter of Hosea is a call to REPENT! It is a call to all Israel to make open confession, and it is an acknowledgment of God to respond to the confession.

The confession stated in verses 1-3 is for the people of Israel. The word "ISRAEL" is closely associated with the name "JACOB." Jacob was a deceiver. He was called out by God, forgiven and saved. After Jacob was saved, he continued to praise God and serve Him.

Note that it is a GENERAL confession. It requires that ALL of the nation come to God in open confession.

Note also that it is a PARTICULAR confession. It requires that each individual acknowledge his/her sin before God.

Note it is also an UNRESERVED confession. Only God can save, there is none other. And this confession relies totally upon the mercy of the Father to forgive.

Each person is to "take words" - these particular words. Not that repeating certain words will present a formula for God's forgiveness; but that these particular words present Israel's specific sins of idolatry.

"Take away all iniquity" relies upon God to forgive. This is total submission, for they also depend upon God to "receive us graciously."

"Render the calves of our lips" refers to the fact that once saved, the people will continue to praise God for His mercy. This is also a reliance upon God to make CHANGE in the individual. They will be changed so that they will never forget to praise God for His salvation.

"Asshur" is Assyria. They will no longer rely upon contracts with nations for salvation. Neither will they rely upon the strength of a calvary to save them ("we will not ride upon horses").

And they will renounce idols, and rely totally upon God for salvation.

4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They 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.

God will receive them through confession, and He will "heal their backsliding." The truly penitent petitioner will not only be forgiven for sin, but will also be "healed" from the magnetism of sin.

God's love flows "freely" to the penitent sinner, because His "anger" is turned away by grace and mercy.

As "dew" falls upon ALL the ground, God's grace will fall upon ALL penitent sinners. He will cause them to flourish in praise and servitude.

My friend, God is "not slack" concerning His promises! Consider your life. If you are not praising and serving God, then perhaps you should reconsider whether you were a truly penitent sinner!

8 Ephraim 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.

"Ephraim" is substituted for Israel. The nation as a whole, and each individual penitent sinner, shall renounce idolatry.

God will "hear," "observe" and change. The deceiver will become a fruitful tree for the Lord.

9 Who 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.

God's Word is always right and never fails to interject full truth. This verse was put there for a reason.

Any truly penitent sinner can come in like manner to God and be saved. He will be counted "wise," and will be forgiven.

Any truly penitent sinner will find that God's "ways" (as shown in the written Word, and in the life of Christ - our Living Word) are RIGHT! And the truly penitent sinner will LIVE by those words.

But those who refuse God's "ways" also refuse "THE way!" THE WAY of salvation is to repent, turn to God in full submission, and begin to live HIS way. Truly penitent sinners will do this.

Are you a truly penitent sinner? Have you surrendered your all to God and begun to grow in the likeness of Christ?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.