14 God’s ', return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of . His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from me. Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.'

Introduction Hosea Chapter 14 begins with a beautiful picture of what true repentance looks like. It then shows in powerful, visceral words how God will respond and bless those who truly repent. It calls us to see this repentance as beautiful flowers and majestic trees, rich verdant grape vines and fields of grain. It invites us to think of those who repent and are blessed as a beautiful aroma like a forest of Cedar trees. It ends with a final call to embrace true wisdom by following God’s good way . When read by itself this chapter provides an incredible word of encouragement that repentance will bring unbelievable care and blessing from a good and loving father.

However, for Hosea, this is only a picture of what could have been, what should have been, not what will be for Israel. If this sermon follows the others chronologically, then at this point Israel is almost completely destroyed, just waiting for the final blow to fall. Centuries of utter apostasy and adultery by the Northern Kingdom of Israel have led to a people whose consciences have been seared, who are beyond repentance and beyond hope. God has made it all too clear that these people have run out of chances, their sin has come to its full measure and they will be utterly destroyed. How it must have broken his heart to know that these promises were not for his people.

God is patient, but his patience has an end. These messages of hope remain for all today, but like Israel, God will not wait forever for those who will not repent.

Day 2 - Hosea 14:1-3 'Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. What does he mean by “return?” To whom does he say they should return? Is he REALLY the Lord their God?

What does it mean they “stumbled” and what caused them to do so?

Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. What two things does he tell them to do?

The text just says “words” this translation adds “of repentance”, do you think that is appropriate? If not what would it mean to “take words with you”?

What does repentance mean and look like in practice?

What specifically does Hosea tell them to say to God? What is the “good” here they should accept?

For what would they “repay” God, and how would they do that? How would that be considered “payment?”

Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. What else does he say they should say to God?

Why would they say Assyria would save us, aren’t they ones who are the greatest danger?

What would it mean to “not ride on horses”?

Why should they not proclaim “our Gods!” to works of their hands?

For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” Who are the fatherless here? Just those without fathers?

What does it mean to receive compassion?

Day 3 Hosea 14:4-7 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. How will God “heal” their apostasy, wouldn’t their repentance have indicated they are already “healed”?

What does this “healing” look like?

What does it mean he will “freely love them”, and what turned his anger from them?

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. What does it mean to be like “the dew to Israel?”

What does it mean to “blossom like a lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon?” Is this just saying the same thing twice or does one build upon the other?

2 What does it mean that new branches would spread? Is this referring to physical growth of Israel or spiritual?

What would this “splendor like an olive tree” look like and mean?

What would it mean to have a “fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon”?

The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. Who are these people who will return and whose “shade” will they live beneath?

What will happen to these people?

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. What does this mean? Renown among whom?

Day 4 Hosea 14:8-9 Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? Why does he say “why should “I”, presumably God, have anything to do with idols in the first place?” Is he saying “ I will not put up with your idols any longer?”

It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from me. Who is it who watches over whom here? What is God saying here?

Do pine trees have fruit??? What is this saying?

Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. Is this Hosea speaking now? Why is this summary ending here? Does he think anyone is wise and insightful?

Is he saying it is wise to understand these things, or if you are wise you will? Is there a difference?

For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.' What is Hosea affirming here about God’s ways?

The last phrase indicated the wise recognize what is right, but what do the righteous do? Is there a difference between the wise and the righteous? What characterizes the righteous?

What do God’s ways represent for the rebellious? Does God’s ways cause them to stumble, or do they point out their stumbling? (Do any other passages speak directly to this question of whether the law causes them to sin or marks out their sin)?

3

Discussion Questions 'Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay you with praise from our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods! ’ to the work of our hands. For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” Hosea is laying out specific details of how they can repent and return to God. What specific types of things does he lay out here?

What does he call for them to repent? Is he sincere in this call for repentance? Does he expect them to repent and is there any chance they will?

How can we answer the previous question based on all that he has said in the rest of this book?

If Israel has demonstrated over its entire existence that it will not turn back to God, and if Hosea KNOWS they will be destroyed, hey does he offer this entreaty?

What does this mean to us? If we are believers do we need to repent in this way?

Is this type of confession and repentance a once and for all thing we do at “salvation” or is it something we have to repeat occasionally or should it be a total way of life?

How often do you offer this type of repentance?

I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. What would it look like if Israel did repent? What specific would it mean for them?

What would this picture of the splendor and beauty and this beautiful aroma of a faithful Israel mean to those around them?

Has God done these things for His Body, the Church? Are we blossoming and spreading?

Do people see the church as a thing of beauty, power and splendor?

Do people consider our church to be a “pleasing aroma” like the wonderful smell of cedar or a pine forest?

Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from me. Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.' What is God’s final word here?

What does Hosea’s final message to Israel convey?

Is this a final attempt to change Israel or is he simply stating the obvious?

Do we still worship idols today? Specifically in our church do we have idols and what are they?

Are we stumbling over God’s ways, or are we acknowledging them and walking joyfully in them? Which did you do today?

4 Outline 1. The picture of true repentance (1-3) a. Israel should return to her God, she has fallen because of her sins b. She should return to God with sincere words reflecting a contrite heart i. She should beg God to forgive her sins and offer good things to God ii. The good things God desires is sincere praise from their lips c. She should confess that her savior Assyria is actually her enemy and her military power cannot save her d. She should stop foolishly calling those made with her own hands, “Gods” e. She should confess that she is an orphan without God and only He will care for her. 2. God will respond to those who repent (4-7) a. He will take away their unfaithful hearts b. He will love them whole-heartedly i. Because his anger has been assuaged c. He will be like a refreshing morning dew i. They will bloom like a beautiful lily ii. They will put down roots like the mighty trees of Lebanon 1. His branches will spread out iii. They will produce good things like a wonderful olive tree iv. They will be a pleasing aroma to those around him, like a forest of cedar trees d. Everyone will return to him and take shelter in his shade and protection i. They will reap abundant blessings of grain and wine e. They will be uniquely admired like the wines of Lebanon 3. God’s final complaint against Israel (8) a. Israel, your time has come to an end, I am done with you and your idols b. I was the One who responded to you and took care of you c. I have been a luxuriant tree that provided you with good fruit 4. The one who is truly wise (9) a. The one who is wise will know these things are true i. The one who can tell the truth will know them b. He knows that God’s ways are the only true way i. And that those who truly please God walk in them ii. But those who do not please God, stumble over them and fall

5