COME HOME…
Opening Prayer
Father, I long to draw closer to you. Please speak to my heart through your Word today.
Read HOSEA 14
Repentance to Bring Blessing
14 [a]Return, Israel, to the Lord your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you
and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
“Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.[b]
3 Assyria cannot save us;
we will not mount warhorses.
We will never again say ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made,
for in you the fatherless find compassion.”
4 “I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
he will send down his roots;
6 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
7 People will dwell again in his shade;
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like the vine—
Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what more have I[c] to do with idols?
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;
your fruitfulness comes from me.”
9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the Lord are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
Footnotes
- Hosea 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1-9 is numbered 14:2-10.
- Hosea 14:2 Or offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls
- Hosea 14:8 Or Hebrew; Septuagint What more has Ephraim
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Turn to the Lord now: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously’ (Hosea 14:2).Now, at the end of Hosea’s message—as in the parable of his marriage to Gomer (3:1–5)—our faithful God sought out his unfaithful people, speaking words of kindness and salvation. Desolate, they weren’t even sure where to start, so God himself taught them words to pray (v 2): ‘Our Father, forgive us’ (vv. 2, 3; Matthew 6:9–13). Their return began with recognition of their sin and a rejection of false gods. Then, they could offer true worship (‘the fruit of our lips,’ 2). They needed to choose to entrust themselves to God’s fatherly care and compassion (v. 3).
With their looking to God and recognition of their hopelessness, God’s response was generous (vv. 4–8). His anger was done. Forgiveness would bring healing, growth, and flourishing. Renewed dependence on him would bring certainty of living in his care and the knowledge that real fruitfulness would be found in him alone (v. 8).
So, here was Hosea’s message, spoken to God’s people in his time— but also, a message for today. Are we wise? Are we discerning? We also need to understand God’s call to uphold his ways, to walk in obedience to him, to recognize that stumbling has its roots in rejecting him—and to rejoice that we too are invited to make our home ‘in his shade’ (v. 7).
Apply
Take time to check your choices. Are there areas where you are choosing something before God?
Closing prayer
Gracious God, I offer myself to you again today, to be ‘a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you’. (Romans 12:1)
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.