The Lord was willing to be a loving husband to an unfaithful wife (ch. 1–3) and a dedicated father to a rebellious son (ch. 11). Hosea described how the people had turned away from God, how they stop loving and being faithful to Him, their religion had become a religion of words and ceremonies, with no affect on them whatsoever. They worshipped God with their mouths, but not with their hearts (ch 8.11)
This last chapter of this book revolves around one word, “turn”.
When people turn to God, God in return will turn to them.
The Interesting factor that God is taking the first step in showing people that we need to turn in order to be able to experience Him and enjoy Him.
Through the prophet Hosea, God is asking them to say 7 things:
1) “Forgive us” v2
Forgive all our sins!
a) A turning to God will inevitably show us how much sinful we are. Oh Lord forgive us, is our cry! Isaiah when saw the vision of the Lord, was convicted of his sin (Is 6.5).
b) We need to understand that sin is serious; sin separate us from God and keeps us away from Him (Ro 3.23);
c) Sin is destructive; it robs us of God and robs God of us (Ro 6.23).
d) Forgiveness restores us; purify us; makes us acceptable (1 Jo 1.9). Jesus sacrifice on the cross makes it possible (1 Jo 2.1-2).
2) “Receive us” v2
Receive us graciously!
a) There is nothing we can do to be received and accepted by God;
b) It is by His grace that we are received, through faith (Eph 2.8);
c) Faith is free, but it cost Jesus’ life. A price had to be paid for the way to be open.
d) We are received when we come through Jesus (Jo 14.6), because it is in Him that we meet God.
Turning Point:
Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously that we may...
3) “offer the fruit of our lips” v2
...that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
a) Instead of offering God mere lip service, here we see a desire to do what is right.
b) An offering that is based on what God has done for us; He forgave us and received us;
c) This offering is not based on anything that we can bring; but on obedience of Him. It is better to obey than sacrifice (Ho 6.6).
4) “Assyria cannot save us” v3
a) Assyria represented international alliances forged in the last days of Northern Israel (Ho 5.13). That dependence on foreign armies weakens people’s trust of the Lord.
b) There is security in the Lord and in His power alone. Paul said to the Ephesians 6.10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”.
5) “we will not mount war horses” v3
a) They will not trust in their military might and politics, which the people saw as the means to their survival.
b) Our trust is in God alone, David said “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God”. He is a very clear example of what is to trust in God than in the power of men (David and Goliath story).
c) We trust in the name of our Lord!
6) “we will never call idols gods” v3
We will never say again “Our gods” to what our own hands have made...
a) When God’s people called the work of their hands as god, they put their dependence on what could not save them.
b) What are you putting your dependence today? Money, job, position or status?
7) “the Lord cares for the fatherless” v3
…for in you the fatherless find compassion.
a) The central message of God through Hosea is that God’s people was like an orphan, but an orphan who had a Father who wanted him back.
b) Father-Son metaphor is used in ch 11 v1 ““When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son”. God has compassion for His people and wants them back. The root for the word compassion in Hebrew is “womb” , showing the compassion and love that God has for His people is like the love of a mother to her child still in the womb.
c) If you feel far from God today, guess who has moved? Many times we wander away from God; God is ready to receive those who in repentance come back to Him, asking for His forgiveness. He is ready to receive them and to call them His children.
Turning Point:
God’s response to the turning of His people is to turn to them in blessing and is also sevenfold:
1) “I will heal” v4
I will heal their waywardness
a) The promise of a restored heart.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31.33
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11.19
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36.26
2) “I will love freely” v4
…and love them freely
a) God will lavish His love upon us.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called His children. And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
b) God has shown us what love is:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
3) “I will turn my anger away”
For my anger has turned away from them
a) The wall of hostility, the sin that was there against us has been removed. As they turned back to God, God’s anger has turned away.
b) God will not look to us as sinful, we are declared righteous, as if we had never sinned!
So, the anger that was due to us has been turned away. God sees us perfect. We are not objects of wrath, but of love.
c) You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30.11 NLT)
4) “I will be like dew” v4
I will be like the dew to Israel…
Causing them to:
a) blossom like a lily…
The outwork of our faith will be beautiful, desirable, and attract awe and glory to God. Lilies are symbol of beauty and splendour. Not even Solomon and all of his life dressed so beautifully like the lilies of the field.
b) Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots... his fragrance will be like it.
God will establish us in Him, and will prosper us, to be a blessing in everything that we do.
c) His splendour will be like an olive tree...
Olive tree in the Bible represents anointing, the enabling of God. When we turn to God, and seek His face, He will anoint us and fill us with the fragrance of His Spirit, and will bear fruit.
d) Men will dwell again in his shade...
Shade give us the idea of protection and covering, we will be under His protection and covering.
The Lord is my light and my salvation so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. Psalm 27.1-3
e) Flourish like a corn
Symbol of increase and blessing. We will increase in numbers and will be a blessing to the nations.
f) Blossom like the vine and fame will be like the wine from Lebanon
Vine represents the nations of Israel, but also Christ and His Church. The promise of a restored people as oppose to a destroyed people, the promise of blessing instead of curse. Once sin is removed, again we are able to bring forth fruit, and thus wine which is a symbol of Joy.
5) “I will answer” v8
I will answer him
a) God will listen to the prayers of His people. God will turn to us and incline His ears to our prayers and answer them. His ways will be in our hearts.
6) “I will care” v8
...and care for him
a) I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me
Nowhere else is God compared to a tree. The fir produces cones, but no fruit. The fruitfulness would seem to be the evergreen nature of the pine, providing beauty and shade in all seasons, stressing God’s constant care. The olive and grain harvests would pass, but the pine is always green.
7) “My ways are right” v9
The ways of the Lord are right, the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
Conclusion
God’s desire is for us to relate with Him, He loves us so much that He gave His best, he took the initiative. Today he asks us to turn to Him with a right heart and a humble spirit, He will then turn to us and show His favour towards us and save us.
Repentance will bring Salvation! A God’s plea to humanity!
