Hosea 14:1-9
1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receivea us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 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.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall growb as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread,c and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and growd as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 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.
9 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.
XIII. CONCLUSION
A. And we will close with the Lord's desire for Israel and within these verse is also His desire for all of his children
1. Hosea 14:1-9 (NASB) Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity, And receive [us] graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.
3 "Assyria will not save us, We will not ride on horses; Nor will we say again, 'Our god,' To the work of our hands; For in Thee the orphan finds mercy."
4 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like [the cedars of] Lebanon.
6 His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree, And his fragrance like [the cedars of] Lebanon.
7 Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown [will be] like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From Me comes your fruit.
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; [Whoever] is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.