The book of Hosea provides a poignant picture of God’s heart to be sought after by his wayward people. The prophet Hosea captures this longing by using his own relationship with his adulterous wife Gomer as the lens through which to view God’s heart. Though Gomer kept wandering from fidelity to her husband, Hosea, he repeatedly sought after her and took her back. With this allegory in view, chapter 14 concludes the book with the final appeal to the nation of Israel to depart from their adulterous ways and return to their one “husband”, the true and living God. While the book of Hosea specifically addresses Israel, its depiction of the longing heart of God is true of His regard toward all people for all time.

 How is it possible for Israel to come back to their God, to whom they have been unfaithful? Hosea gives his readers a sample script to follow as a way of expressing their repentant hearts and their desire to enter back into a fully reconciled relationship with God. This sample script may help us as well on our pathway of return.

“Return O Israel, to the Lord your God,

for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him,

“Take away all iniquity;

accept that which is good,

and we will render the fruit of our lips.” (Hos.14:1,2)

The first element in the script for Israel’s return to the Lord, is to acknowledge their iniquity. The same is true for us as we turn back toward the Lord. “I have sinned. I messed up. I was tempted and stumbled after other ‘lovers’. I may have had my reasons; bad things may have happened in my life. Nevertheless, I turned away from You; You did not leave me. I chose other “gods” instead of You to protect me, to satisfy me, to love me and I am sorry. Please forgive me, please take away all my iniquities.”

A second request that God includes in this script of repentance is an expression of their desire to salvage and restore that which is good. “Though I have made bad choices, I am still your beautiful creation who has been made by You to reflect your glory. You have always known and seen the potential for good to be expressed through me. I want that too. Accept me and revive in me that which is good.” 

The third piece in this declaration of repentance is the pledge to shift all praise, worship and trust to God and God alone. This is the fruit of our lips. Detaching our affections from those things that have captivated us isn’t easy. In Israel’s case, their trust in other nations to save them, other gods to deliver them from their enemies and their own self- reliance, had become their objects of worship. This is a statement of intention, and purpose to speak and live to honor God as truly God.

Assyria shall not save us,

We will not ride upon horses;

And we will say no more, ’Our God’ to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy.”

Israel’s departure from dependence upon God took place in ways that are relatable even for us today. When threatened by their enemies, Israel’s temptation was to form alliances with the superpowers of that time, Assyria and Egypt, for protection rather than turning toward God and asking Him for wisdom and provision for their protection. We can relate. It can seem safer to put our trust in those things that we can see, the government, our justice system, world leaders, weapons, armies, technological prowess, our investments, ChatGPT, than to seek first the invisible God’s presence, wisdom and will.

When no longer threatened by enemies such that Israel felt secure, they resorted to trust in the work of their own hands. They made their own abilities, institutions, and blessings into objects of worship; idols. We still do this today, whether they be idols of religiosity or of wealth,  idolizing success or fame or status,  idols of knowledge, or accomplishment or work, idols of comfort, entertainment or sports, idols of self-actualization, sexual or romantic fulfillment.

These other “lovers”, the powers in whom we place our trust or the gods of our own making, have left everyone who devoted themselves to these, orphaned; they are unable to fill and fulfill as only God can.  God nevertheless extends his merciful invitation to gather up orphaned souls . God’s response to Israel or Gomer (Hosea’s wife) or to anyone who recognizes that they are an orphan and answers His call to return, anyone who comes in sincere contrition and repentance, is as follows:

I will heal their faithlessness;

I will love them freely;

For my anger has turned from them.

I will be as dew to Israel…

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow,

They shall flourish like a garden… (Hos.14:4,5,7)

The pathway that is laid out in Hosea 14 is an open invitation from the God whose love is unfailing. He extends His arms to not only to welcome you back, but to heal, love, embrace, accept and restore to flourishing. The invitation can be summarized and simplified as follows:

Return to the Lord your God – He eagerly waits for you to come back to Him.

Take with you words – He longs to hear your words expressed from your heart; simple, humble and sincere.

Take away all iniquity – Please forgive me God, I have sinned against you. Please take this desire to sin away.

Accept what is good – Restore me, your dear child, whom you beautifully created for good purposes in this world.

Assyria will not save me – People and powers are not my savior; You are.

Horses will not save me – Technology, military protection, financial strength, human power, social status are not my security; I trust in You.

The works of my hands will not save me – False gods of my own making, false spiritual beliefs and practices will not lead me into life; You are the source of my life.

Have mercy on me, an orphaned child – None of these are worthy of my trust or of my affection. They will abandon me, leaving me bereft of abundant life, steadfast love and everlasting salvation. Have mercy on me.

In reply God says,

I will heal your waywardness by leading you back on paths of healing truth.

I will love you freely and I will help you to believe in my complete and total forgiveness and my deep secure love.

It is I who answers and looks after you, so trust in Me to lead your life.

My ways as revealed through the Bible are true and lead you to freedom and life, even though they may run counter to the ways of this world. Believe my Word.

                       Walk with Me from now on in Spirit and in truth out of your love for Me and trust 

in Me.

Can you relate to the ways that Israel wandered away from their God?

When threatened by fearful or difficult circumstances, what did you run to for protection?

When secure and prosperous, what did you fill your time with; what did you spend your money on; what did you invest your energy in; and to what did you bring your devotion?

How have the things that you have trusted for protection or satisfaction fulfilled you?

How have they orphaned you?

What keeps you from turning back to God?

Have you talked to Him about that?

Are you surprised by God’s invitation to be restored? 

What iniquities are you asking God to take away?

Are you trusting in Him to heal your waywardness?

Do you believe in His pledge to love you freely?

Would you be willing to use elements of this script to begin a conversation with God about where you are at?

His invitation is for you. Hosea completes his book with this final appeal.

What have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you.

I am like an evergreen cyprus;

From me comes your fruit.

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 upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them. Hosea 14:8,9