O israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
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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.
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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.
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I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
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I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
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His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Hosea 14 Study & Commentary
Hosea 14 - The Invitation to Return: The book ends with a beautiful call to "Return unto the Lord." God promises to heal their backsliding and love them freely. Israel is compared to a flourishing lily and an olive tree.
THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
1. The Fruit of Lips: "Take with you words... so will we render the calves of our lips" (v. 2). Worship and confession as the true sacrifice.2. Healing Backsliding: God is the physician who heals the spiritual disease of wandering hearts.
3. The Wisdom Conclusion (v. 9): "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?" The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them.
PRACTICAL LESSONS
1. Freely Loved: God’s love is not earned; it is "freely" given to those who simply return.2. Stability and Beauty: A life restored by God has the beauty of a lily and the deep "roots" of Lebanon.
