Hosea 14:5

Hosea 14:5 says, I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.  Verse four had given the good news that God had not abandoned Israel forever, and verse five begins to give Israel the results of following God again when they returned to Him.  God's people would again find true comfort by their relationship with God.  This restoration came through Jesus Christ, and it is a spiritual restoration, not an earthly one.  Jesus did not come to be an earthly ruler, but a spiritual one instead.  When Israel was once again in the right relationship with God, they would once again find success.  God would daily revive them, like dew does plants.  When we are in God's will, He will likewise daily revive us spiritually.  I cannot say that everything will always go well in earthly terms, but they will in spiritual terms, which is the only way that counts.  Verse six adds, His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.  Olive branches are usually associated with peace, and I believe God was telling His people that they were to bring His peace to the world.  They were to be deeply rooted in their faith in God, as are we today.  Deeply rooted trees are not easily blow over, and deeply rooted faith is the same.  We should not have our faith falter at the first sign of trouble but must stand fast in all the storms of life.  Verse seven continues, 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. I believe that Hosea was promising the remnant of true believers that they would be restored.  Those who truly believed God and lived by faith in Him were not spared the earthly defeat and captivity, but as His people, they were promised ultimate victory.  We may at times feel that the world is being victorious over us but as followers of Christ, we can be sure of an everlasting victory through our faith in Him.  Verse eight states, 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, and all the people of Israel, would eventually realize that there was no hope or protection in the things of this world and would return to God.  We today must realize the same thing.  We can never find hope and security in the things of this world but can find them in God alone.  Verse nine adds, 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.  The people of Israel were asked a question, Who is wise and will understand these things of God? When we look for wisdom, it can come only from God.  If we are prudent, we will put our faith in Him.  Hosea reminded the people of Israel that the ways of God were right and that the just would walk in them.  Those who did not walk in the ways of the Lord would fall.  Hosea warned the people of Israel of their coming destruction, but he left them with hope if they returned to God.