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.

Hosea 14:1

Hosea 14:1 says, O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.  Hosea here begins to call on the people of Israel to return to God.  There was hope for them beyond the coming destruction if they simply returned to putting their faith in God.  God has overcome the destructive power of sin, and all we have to do is put our faith in Him to claim that victory.   Verse two adds, 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.  God was not going to force the people of Israel to return to Him, but He still called to them and stood ready to forgive them.  God calls us today, but He still does not force Himself on us.  We must willingly respond to His call.  Verse three continues, 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.  Israel would come to understand that there was no hope of an everlasting relationship in the things of this world.  Idols and riches would fail them, just as they will fail us today.  They were to show the mercy of God to the world.  Until Israel accepted their true relationship with God, they would be as Fatherless spiritually as the rest of the world.  Idols made by hand can never be a real spiritual Father.  Through God alone can we have everlasting security.  Verse four concludes, I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Even as God was allowing Israel to suffer for their sins, He was giving them hope.  If we fall into sin as followers of Christ, that does not leave us with no hope.  God awaits for our forgiveness and restoration, even if we suffer spiritually from not following His will completely.  Once we are saved through faith in Christ, our salvation is not then dependent on our works, but is still ours forever through our acceptance of that salvation once and for all time.

Hosea 13:9

Hosea 13:9 says, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.  God tells Israel in no uncertain terms that they had destroyed themselves.  When we are out of God's will, we are setting ourselves up for the destruction of our works.  God reminded them that He was the true source of their help.  God stands ready to help us today if we only acknowledge Him as the Lord of our lives. This does not mean parts of our lives, but every aspect of our lives.  Verse ten adds, I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?  God was to be their King, but the people of God wanted an earthly king that they could follow, and that had now led to a divided kingdom and a rejection of God.  No matter where we live in the world today, God must be our King, the One Who directs our lives.  Verse eleven God continues, I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.  An earthly king was never what God intended for His people, but He allowed them to select one, and they chose wrong from the start.  Today, if we live where we really have a choice, we need to select leaders under God's guidance if we are followers of Christ.  Verse twelve states, The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.  God may not have yet acted to punish them for their sins, but the sins were not forgotten.  Sin can only be dealt with when we ask God's forgiveness for it.  Though we may prosper while sinning and think we have gotten away with it God binds sin up to be dealt with ultimately.  Verse thirteen adds, The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.  A woman who is expecting a baby knows that eventually the birth of the baby will bring pain to her.  I believe Hosea was telling God's people that sin was the same way.  Sin would result in pain, and for that reason alone it made no sense to remain under the power of sin.  This has not changed today.  Verse fourteen continues, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.  God promised a way to overcome the penalty of sin, which was death, everlasting spiritual separation from God.  We know through Christ God fulfilled that promise.  We must simply repent of our sins and accept God's gift of salvation by faith.  Verse fifteen says, Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.  God's people might have been prosperous while worshipping other gods, but it was temporary.  We may feel that we are doing so great in life that we don't need God, but if we are not following His will for our lives, it is only a temporary success.  Verse sixteen adds, Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.  God had been the source of the success of His people, and due to their rebellion, He was removing His protection, and they would be destroyed. We as followers of Christ are protected by God's power, and as long as we remain faithful to Him, we can never be spiritually destroyed, no matter what happens to us in this life.

Hosea 13:1

Hosea 13:1 says, When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.  When Ephraim, a part of the nation of Israel, worshipped God in the awe that He deserves, Ephraim was successful.  The people were not satisfied with God's provision and protection of them though, and sought out idols, represented here by Baal.  We should learn to be content with our needs being met and not fall into the trap of allowing material desires to become what we are most interested in.  Ephraim was guilty of pride and greed and looked to man-made gods to fulfill these desires.  Verse two adds, And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.  Sin breeds sin.  God's chosen people were falling farther and farther away from Him.  We cannot allow even a small amount of sin in our lives if we are to effectively serve God.  Verse three continues, Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.  Though the people of Israel felt successful, their real accomplishments would be no more lasting than the dew or mist.  As soon as the sun came out, they would pass away.  If our works are not for God, they will not last in the Light, which Christ brings to our lives.  Verse four proclaims, Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.  God was reminding those who called themselves His people that He is the only God.  God is the only One Who can deliver and save people.  In this, we as His followers, must always be exclusive.  There is but One true God, and He alone can deliver us from sin and its penalty. Verse five adds, I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.  I believe that God was reminding the people of Israel that He was not some new god, like the ones they were worshipping, but that He had been with them since He called them.  Even in the bad times, God was with them, and so He is with us today. Verse six continues, According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.   God had been the One to bring them success, yet they had forgotten Him.  Sometimes, we seem to be closer to God in our struggles than we are in our successes, but we must remember that we owe it all to God.  Verse seven says, Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:  Verse eight adds, I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.  When God's people refuse to follow Him, they can expect God's judgment on them.  This is not God's desire, but it is a choice people can make.  Once more, if we are truly His through Christ, we are saved forever, but if we stray from His will, we can expect the things that we do that are not in God's will to be destroyed.  We must always remember that God alone should direct our lives.

Hosea 12:7

Hosea 12:7 says, He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.  Here, God is referring to Ephraim and comparing them to the merchants of Canaan.  The people of Ephraim were successful because they cheated people and loved to oppress them, just as the merchants of Canaan had done.  Remember, these were people who called themselves God's people.  We as followers of Christ are God's people today, and we must deal fairly with people in all our dealings with them.  We may not become as materially rich that way, but we will be spiritually enriched.  Verse eight adds, And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. The people of Ephraim were basically saying that it didn't matter how they became rich in the things of the world, only that they had.  Their pride was in their business abilities, no matter how corrupt those business abilities might have been.  They were trading an everlasting relationship with God for temporary riches of the world.  They also felt it was all for their self-gratification at the expense of those they were supposed to be reaching for God.  Verse nine continues, And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.  The people of Israel may have failed in their part of their covenant relationship with God, but He would still remain true to His part, as soon as they repented and returned to Him.  When we, as followers of Christ, fail to live up to our commitment to God, He does not cease to be our heavenly Father.  God was speaking to the remnant of true believers and those that would later come to Him through faith.  He would give them tabernacles to live in.  They had worshipped in tabernacles during their wandering in the wilderness due to lack of faith, and they were going to be wanderers again. We think of tabernacles as places of worship, and with the Holy Spirit indwelling us, wherever we reside should be a place to worship God.  Verse ten states, I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.  God was still active with those who were called His people.  God sent prophets whom He spoke to through visions to minister to His people.  We, as God's people today, need to have a vision from God of what we are to do in the world.  We must not rely on our own strength or desire.  Verse eleven adds, Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.  The question is mostly rhetorical.  God answered that yes there was.  The people were full of self-pride and were worshipping false gods.  Verse twelve continues, And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.  God was reminding them that even though Jacob received the blessing that went with the birthright, he did so through deceit and had to flee with nothing.  He was a shepherd working for a wife instead of a leader of God's people.  When we attempt to go our own way instead of following God, we will be brought low spiritually.  Verse thirteen declares, And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.  Israel, was not restored until the prophet of God came to them in the land of Egypt.  God always calls us back to a right relationship with Him when we stray. Verse fourteen adds, Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.  Ephraim, and all the people of Israel, were turning away from God and to idols.  They brought punishment on themselves.

Hosea 12:1

Hosea 12:1 sats, Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.  God was again reminding His chosen people that they could only find security and satisfaction thorough following Him.  When they looked to the world powers for security, they would find themselves feeding on nothing but their own vanity, which would be as fulfilling as eating air.  If we are not following God's will for our lives, we are filling our lives with empty accomplishments.  Verse two adds, The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.  The people of Judah were also beginning to turn away from God, and they were dealing deceitfully with Him.  They were descendants of Jacob, who had dealt in deceit with those around him until he turned to God in faith.  We likewise deal with God in deceit until we come to Him by faith through Christ.  We need to be thankful that God deals with us through mercy instead of through justice, because justice can only bring punishment.  God calls on us as His followers, His people, to treat the people of the world the same way.  We are to approach them with mercy, not hatred or contempt.  If we are no different than the rest of the world, then that says that God does not change people into a new creation.  Verse three continues, He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:  This is still referring to Jacob.  Jacob is said to have been fighting to claim the birthright of the first born even in the womb but was unsuccessful.  No matter how early in life we may attempt to claim God's blessings of our own ability, we will fail.  Jacob was able to claim the birthright by deceit, but we can never claim a right relationship with God through deceit, but only through the truth of Christ.  Verse four states, Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;  This could be interpreted as Jacob defeating the angel and enforcing his will on God, but I believe it really says that until Jacob stopped wrestling with God and instead submitted to Him he never received the blessing of God.  We cannot come to God through our own strength and will but can only come to Him by asking His forgiveness through Christ.  Verse five adds, Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. This tells us Who it was that sought Jacob and entered into a covenant relationship with him.  It was the Lord of hosts, the only true God.  Jacob's relationship with God was to be a memorial to God and not a memorial to Jacob. When God seeks us out and calls us into a relationship with Him, it is for our benefit but for His glory.  Verse six continues, Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.  The same call applies to us today.  We are to turn to God for direction in life.  God calls us to have mercy and use His judgment, not our own, to relate to the world.  Jacob was impatient to claim an earthly birthright, but he learned to wait on God for an everlasting birthright.  We must learn to likewise wait on God's direction continually.

Hosea 11:7

Hosea 11:7 says, And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.  Though Israel was called to be God's people through His mercy and their acceptance of Him as their God, they had backsliden into sin.  Though they were called to do God's will in their lives, none would exalt God.  We today as followers of Christ are God's by His mercy alone, and we are called to exalt Him in all that we do.  When we fail to do so, we like Israel are guilty of backsliding into sin once more.  Verse eight adds, How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.  This states that God debated with Himself about the fate of His chosen people.  Though nearly all had rejected Him, God was still ready to sustain them if they would turn to Him.   God does not let His people suffer destruction easily. Today, when we backslide, God isn't just waiting to destroy us, but He is waiting in mercy to restore us.  God does not want anyone to go away into everlasting separation, but He will allow it if we do not accept His gift of salvation. Verse nine continues, I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. If God had acted as men act, Israel, or Ephraim as a part of the nation was singled out, would have been utterly destroyed.  God was not a man though, but He was and is God.  Verse ten states, They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.  Though most of the people of Israel had turned away from God, there was coming a day when all people would be called to follow after Him.  Though God could have destroyed them, He chose instead to call them to Himself again.  His voice would be like a lion roaring, something that could not easily be ignored.  When we as sinners hear the voice of God calling to us, we should tremble.  When we as redeemed sinners hear His voice, we should rejoice.  Verse eleven adds, They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.  Though the people of Israel were scattered, when they heard God voice and responded to His call, they would be restored to their houses.  They would no longer be under the bondage of sin but would be restored to a right relationship with God.  We know this happened when Jesus Christ came into the world. Through our faith in Christ, we have a heavenly home.  There is a debate today about whether this is a mansion or a room, but that is not really the point.  It is where God is and if He prepared it, we can be certain that it will be perfect for us.  Verse twelve continues, Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.  God said that at this point, Judah, part of the divided kingdom, had not totally turned their backs on Him.  We know that they to would eventually be destroyed for their disbelief, but not yet.  There was always a remnant who believed, even when the nation as a whole turned away from God.  We as His followers are the ones who need to remain true to Him, no matter what the rest of the world does.