August 27, 2023
Hosea 14
“The Great and Hopeful Return”
Service Overview: Hosea foresaw a day when Israel could finally return to their Father and first love. And in this final chapter, we catch a hopeful glimpse of what can happen when a person or nation turns back to God.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Hosea is eminently the prophet of God’s grace and the need for human repentance. Both themes reach a triumphant crescendo in the final chapter of his prophecy. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 197)
- Just as soil is the source of life for flowers, so God is the life-giving source of Israel. But Israel had performed a do-it-yourself transplant. She had uprooted herself from God and crawled into poisonous beds. God would have been well within his rights to say, “You’ve made your own beds, now you can die in them.” But he loved Israel too much for that. One day he would save the withering, shriveled-up Israel and transplant her back into himself, her natural source of life. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 109)
- The first word, in the Hebrew as well as the RSV translation, sets the tone for the chapter. It is the word “return” (shub). The whole chapter is concerned with Israel’s return to God, so the word serves as a kind of title. Furthermore, in one sense the word is not unexpected. It has occurred before (3:5; 6:1), where it expresses the great longing which Hosea (and God) has for Israel. If only they would do an about turn and return to God. (H. D. Beeby, Grace abounding: A Commentary on the Book of Hosea, 178)
- How God would respond to repentant Israel is expressed in verses 4-8. Israel’s basic sickness was turning away from God to false saviors (11:5,7). “Faithfulness” is, literally, “turning” (v. 4a), the word used in 11:7. That is what God, the physician, promised to cure. “Heal” is part of Hosea s salvation vocabulary (5:13; 6:1; 7:1). The term suggests return to wholeness. In some contexts it means forgive. They have confessed turning from God; God promises to forgive their turnings. Forgiving and healing are two parts of the one cure. (Billy K. Smith, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Vol. 13, 72)
- There is nothing explicit in this passage that gives us an exact date of when Hosea delivered it. We surmise that it was spoken during the last days of the siege of Samaria or soon after. There is no vindictive “I told you so!” but rather a message of lasting hope that God would not abandon His people. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 198)
Why is a chapter like Hosea 14 so vitally important for understanding mankind’s relationship to God?
- It emphasizes the root problem of all nations and people; sin.
(v. 1 | Is. 64:6; John 8:34; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; Ecc. 7:20; James 1:14-15; 1 John 1:8-10)
The urgency of the exhortation to repent is expressed with an imperative form of the verb “return” (v. 1). In direct address, the prophet called on the entire apostate nation to return to Yahweh. They had turned from God to follow Baal. Now they must backtrack along the same path. Use of singular verbs and pronouns implies that the prophet thought of the people as one entity. Their need for repentance was based on the fact that already they had “stumbled” in their “iniquity.” (Billy K. Smith, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Vol. 13, 71)
- It upholds a model for return and acceptance by God; repentance and action.
(vv. 2-3 | Prov. 28:13; Mat. 3:8; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
Israel can avoid punishment. She has only to say one word and mean it – ‘Sorry.’ (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 106)
The first step in returning to God is to accept responsibility for departing from Him. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 198)
- It demonstrates God’s response to any who sincerely turn back; forgiveness, healing, and love.
(vv. 4-6 | 2 Chr. 7:14; Ps. 103:10-14; Matt. 9:13; Luke 15:11–32; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:9)
God had every reason to reject His sinful people, but He chose to offer them forgiveness. Instead of bringing sacrifices, they needed to bring sincere words of repentance and ask God for His gracious forgiveness. “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:16–17 NKJV) (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 50)
- It shows what God grants upon return; immense hope for a brighter future.
(vv. 7-8 | Is. 61:7; Hos. 6:1; John 10:10; Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 5:5; 15:13; Ja. 5:16; 1 Peter 1:3)
Moral renewal requires a free decision. Obedience must be willing or it is not fully human. Love is a gift, an invitation, and it must be answered freely, willingly, in love. Forced compliance is not true obedience. Therefore, after the discipline, which can be imposed against the will, there is the invitation to return. (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 100)
Conclusion… What hope is there in this final chapter for God’s people today?
A. Reception.
(2 Chr. 7:14; Ps. 103:10-14; Is. 55:7; John 3:16-17; Acts 3:19; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:9)
There is many a believer who forsakes God, but there is never a believer whom God forsakes. (Bob LaForge, Contemplating the Almighty, 120)
It is an awesome experience to tell God what we have done to cause us to drift apart from Him. We cannot hide from God what we have tried to hide from others, even ourselves. When we verbally express what we are, this prepares us for an incisive encounter with Him. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 199)
B. Restoration.
(Isaiah 1:18; 61; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Hosea 6:1; Acts 3:19-21; James 5:16; 1 Peter 5:10)
Salvation in its full sense is from the guilt of sin in the past, the power of sin in the present, and the presence of sin in the future. (Scott Hafemann, This We Believe, 97)
Repentance must be followed by restoration. We need to know that God has accepted our broken hearts and now wants to give us a new life. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 201)
This is a love which is free and spontaneous, finding its only reason in the character and disposition of the lover. It loves not because the lover has promised to love, nor primarily because he is moved by compassion for distress in the object of his love. Even less does it love because the beloved is lovable or offers anything in return. This love belongs only to God. God loves in absolute freedom. God loves because God is love (H. D. Beeby, Grace abounding: A Commentary on the Book of Hosea, 183)
C. Revival.
(2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:10; 85:6; Isaiah 57:15; Acts 2:38; 3:19-21; James 4:8)
Revival is not just an emotional touch; it’s a complete takeover! (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Brokenness, The Heart God Revives, 38)
Revival is not a green valley getting greener, but a valley full of dry bones being made to live again and stand up an exceeding great army (Ezek. 37). It is not good Christians becoming better Christians – but rather Christians honestly confessing that their Christian life is a valley of dry bones and by that very confession qualifying for the grace that flows from the cross and makes all things new. (Roy Hession, The Calvary Road, 12)
Revival is measured by the transformation of human lives and the transformation of culture as a result of those transformed lives. (Gregory Koukl, Genuine Revival, Stand to Reason Commentary)
Gospel Connection…
The greatest news of all is that God has made a way for anyone to be made right with him by simply turning in faith to Jesus; regardless your past, your future can be secure in him.
(John 3:16-18; 14:6; Acts 2:38; 4:12; Rom. 3:23-25; 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 4:10)
There is many a believer who forsakes God, but there is never a believer whom God forsakes. (Bob LaForge, Contemplating the Almighty, 120)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What makes confession of sin (to God or other people) so difficult? What makes it easier?
- In what ways have you enjoyed the blessings of God but have then taken the Giver for granted? What reminds you to give thanks?
- How is it possible for us to stay away from the horrendous sin and apathy that brought the Israelites down? What do we have that they did not?
- What kind of hope is the guarantee of those who humbly turn to God in repentance? How is this good news?
Quotes to note…
The daily experience of Christ’s love is linked to our obedience to Him. It is not that His love is conditioned on our obedience. That would be legalism. But our experience of His love is dependent upon our obedience. (Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, 154)
How hard it is to say ‘Sorry’! We now know that it was impossible for Israel. Shortly after Hosea had written these words, the Assyrian forces attacked. They ripped Israel to pieces in one of the most horrific conquests of ancient times. Justice had been done. The punishment had been made to fit Israel’s crimes. But that was not the end. There will be no sad ending to God’s love story. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 106)
When we confess our sins to the Lord, He forgives us and the “germs of sin” are cleansed away (1 John 1:9), but, as with physical sickness, often there’s a period of recuperation when we get back our strength and our appetite for spiritual food. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 50)
We all know what it is like to sense a growing distance between us and the Lord. Prayer becomes strained, life becomes increasingly stressful, and our heart becomes restless. Sometimes the cause is unconfessed sin or resistance to what God has clearly guided us to do. The danger is that we settle for this kind of spiritual mediocrity. We feel the emptiness but seek to forget it by filling our lives with distractions. Then when life crumbles or a crisis strikes, we are brought face to face with the person we have become. We stumble because we wandered away from a trusting relationship with God. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 199)
The love of God is not a reward for human righteousness. It is a healing power which makes righteousness possible. It precedes and undergirds all human effort, and it makes all striving for extraneous reward unnecessary and undesirable. ‘“‘We love because he first loved us” is the message of Hosea, as well as the NT. (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 101)
The inability to love, obey, or please God is the very essence of human depravity. And the only solution to that predicament is the re-creative work of God (2 Cor. 5:17). That is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (v. 3). This is what salvation is all about: God miraculously changes the nature of those whom He redeems, so that they are drawn to the very same righteousness they formerly hated. This was the central promise of the New Covenant. (John MacArthur, The Battle for the Beginning, 197)
All caricatures of God which ignore His intense hatred for sin reveal more about man than about God. In a moral universe God must of necessity oppose evil. (Robert Mounce, Revelation, 1295)
No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness. (John Bunyan, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 110)