The Restoration Promised • Hosea 14:1-9
By Don Hicks
The climax of Hosea’s prophesies come in the last four chapters of his Old Testament book. The title of today’s lesson aptly summarizes this portion Hosea because it is in fact, the restoration as it was promised.
The subtitle for the lesson is pointed and correctly stated: “God promises to forgive all who turn to Him in repentance.” Doesn’t it sound a lot like, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV)?
The author of LifeWay’s lesson guide for this quarter, Greg Pouncey, senior pastor of First Church, Clinton, helps us understand the context of our lesson when he writes, “In chapter 11, the focus turns toward God’s unfailing love toward Israel.”
Hosea writes: “1.When Israel was a child, I (God) loved him… 3. It was I (God) who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand… 4. I led them with human cords, with ropes of love… I bent down to give them food” (Hosea 11:1-4 CSB).
Like me, some of you have known the joy of taking your trusting toddler’s hand and helping them walk where they were not yet able to walk by themselves. This is the Bible’s beautiful and, yes, emotional picture of God’s loving personal care for us.
Right this minute, can you imagine this beautiful picture of the God of Creation taking your hand and providing for you that which you could not provide for yourself? When you understand what the God of the universe wants to personally do for you and provide for you, it is at the same time humbling and lovingly reassuring.
It is even more wonderful when you understand the Holy Spirit led Hosea to write that God is bending down to give us our food. Isn’t this a beautiful revealing picture of God’s personal and loving care? Scripture tells us that God fed us and helped us walk when we couldn’t walk alone “with human cords, with ropes of love” (Hosea 11:4a CSB).
Now, let’s turn our attention to today’s focal passage growing out of all of the details of Hosea’s life and ministry building up to his last chapter.
The book gives us an honest account of Hosea’s life and the terrible hurt Hosea had because he was rejected and betrayed by his unfaithful and unloving wife, but Hosea forgave his adulterous wife, redeemed her from the slavery of prostitution (human trafficking in modern terms), and took her back fully as his wife.
Hosea was uniquely prepared to understand God’s forgiving love — the love that is available to any person who will, “come back! Return to your God! You’re down but you‘re not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God. Pray to him, ‘Take away our sin, accept our confession,’ (Hosea 14:1-2 The Message paraphrase).
Hosea realized:
— “Assyria will not save us” (Hosea 14:3a CSB). Worldly/political alliances will not save us, even with very powerful nations and groups.
— “we will not ride on horses” (Hosea 14:3b CSB). We can’t depend on military force.
— “and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our hand” (Hosea 14:3c CSB). We must reject any man-made idols.
The last part of verse three tells us: “For the fatherless receives compassion in you” (Hosea 14:3d CSB).
— Hosea tells us God has promised: “I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him” (Hosea 14:4 CSB).
“I (God) will be like the dew to Israel” (Hosea 14:5a (CSB). In arid areas like Israel (or New Mexico where my wife Judy and I grew up), during much of the year dew is rare and very valued on those special days when there is dew.
— “he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon” (Hosea 14: 5-6 CSB).
The closing verse of Hosea summarizes the prophet’s teachings for his entire life and ministry: “Whoever is (spiritually) wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is (spiritually) discerning and understands, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble and fall in them” (Hosea 14:9 AMP).
Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.
