Israel Returns, and God Returns (Hosea 14:1-9)
Just as the first section of Hosea concluded with God’s love for Israel and the promise of their return under a Davidic king (3:1-5) and the second section of Hosea closed with God’s compassion and love for Israel and their return to their homes (11:1-11), so the third and final section of Hosea ends with the assurance of God’s healing grace and renewed life for Israel (14:1-8). The persistent and repetitive announcement of judgment and discipline because of the northern kingdom’s sins throughout the book culminates in a picture of forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. This signals that the intent of the judgment (divine justice) in the preceding oracles was restorative. Through discipline, God intends to restore Israel so that she might blossom like the lilies of the field, the cedars of Lebanon, and the olive trees that pepper the landscape of Israel. They will again flourish in a new garden, a kind of return to the Garden of Eden as the land of promise was supposed to be for the people of God.
“Return” is the key word in this last chapter. It occurs four times, though not apparent in most English translations.
- “Return (שׁוּבָה), O Israel, to the LORD your God” (4:1a)
- “Take words with you and return (שׁ֖וּבוּ) to the LORD” (4:2a)
- “for my anger has turned (שָׁ֥ב) from them” (14:4b)
- “They shall again (יָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙) live beneath my shadow” (14:7a).
The word has been prominent throughout Hosea (2:7, 9; 3:5; 4:9; 5:4, 15; 6:11; 7:10, 16; 8:13; 9:3; 11:5, 9; 12:3, 7, 10, 15). The general idea is repentance and renewal, or Israel’s refusal to repent, or God’s decision to return Israel to enslavement (“return to Egypt”). Hosea’s appeal to Israel has been constant: return to God. And the hope has been constant as well: God will return to you or return you (that is, heal you).
Consequently, the last oracle ends with an appeal “return, O Israel, to the LORD your God!”
When Israel Turns (14:1-3)
There is a need to “return” because Israel had stumbled in their iniquity. There is no need to rehearse the details since Hosea has devoted most of the book to their indictment. Yet despite their sin and stumbling, God invites them to return through Hosea. God is not done with Israel.
If Israel would return with appropriate hearts that speak words of reconciliation, recommitment, and renewal, God will hear. Israel must speak to God.
- Israel asks for forgiveness—take away all guilt.
- Israel asks God to receive their gifts—accept what is good.
- Israel commits to praise—to offer prayers, vows, and thanksgiving.
- Israel rejects dependence on political alliances or military strength—“Assyrian will not save us” and “we will not ride upon horses.”
- Israel commits to reject idolatrous practices—“the work of our hands.”
- Israel rests in God’s mercy—like a parentless child, Israel depends on God’s mercy.
This is what repentance looks like for Israel. It is a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. It is a confession of past evils and a commitment to entrust themselves to Yahweh, their God. The hinge that turns the door is God’s mercy. The hope in the first oracle is that God will show mercy (Hosea 2:23), and Israel must depend upon it because they cannot depend on their own righteousness. Mercy will reclaim Israel (remarry her in Hosea 2-3).
God Returns (14:4-8)
When Israel returns, God returns.
Hosea draws a beautiful picture of God’s healing and love. When Israel returns, God will turn from divine anger and heal their unfaithfulness (disloyalty or even apostasy) and “love them freely.” God is not compelled to love by the object of God’s love as if there is something in Israel that obligates God. Rather, God gives generously and voluntarily. This is the word most often used for “freewill offerings” in Israel’s sacrificial system. It is a gift!
Hosea then uses a series of metaphors to describe the glory and joy of this moment. It is like a refreshing dew in the morning (in contrast to Israel’s faithfulness that was like the dew that disappeared so quickly in Hosea 6:4; 13:3). It is like the blossom of the lily in its beauty and glory. It has the splendor an olive tree, a stable food source in Israel as well as other uses for the oil. It is healing, fragrant, and delicious.
The Lebanon metaphor is an extended one. The fragrance of the trees, their shade from the sun, and their rootedness symbol Israel’s future. Israel will be like the cedars of Lebanon, which are renowned for their strength, beauty, and value.
Under these trees, God will establish a garden (according to the LXX, but “shall grow grain” in Hebrew MT text). Perhaps this is an echo of the original garden, but it is also a reference to the divine intent for Israel from the beginning: the land in which they dwell will flourish and be like a garden (Joel 2:3 refers to Judah as a Garden of Eden, for example). In this garden, the vines will grow fragrant wine. It is possible grain is the better reading and thus the image of grain and wine (bread and drink) speaks to the fullness of Israel’s renewed existence.
The final appeal in the oracle is Hosea 14:8. Yahweh reminds Israel that idolatry is not the source of their fruitfulness (or faithfulness, as in the NRSV). God gives Israel life, not the idols. God answers them and responds with loving care, with mercy.
God is ready to receive Israel if only they would choose to accept God’s mercy.
Wisdom Meditation (14:9)
Hosea concludes, probably added by the editor of the collection, with a wisdom saying that invites readers to process what they have learned (much like Psalm 107:43) and calls attention to the main function of the book, which is: “the ways of Yahweh are right.” This is the final appeal to follow Yahweh, the God of Israel, rather than following Baal, pursuing political alliances, or even pursuing wealth. Rather, Israel is called to pursue Yahweh just as Yahweh pursues them and is full of compassion for them.
But the decision belongs to Israel. Will they walk or stumble? Will the walk in the ways of Yahweh or will they stumble in the path because of their transgressions. Will Israel change? Will Judah resist the message and fall into the same ditch as Israel?
The verbs “understand” and “discern” in the NRSV are the same Hebrew term. We might translate it something like, “Those who are wise understand these things, those who understand know them.” The wise understand; they know the reality of God’s world. What do they know/understand? The wise recognize the “ways of Yahweh are right.” The righteous (or upright) walk in them. The paths God into which God invites us to walk are “straight;” they are not twisted and crooked. They are not an occasion for stumbling, but transgressions are.
The paths of Yahweh are righteous and just. The offer a path to ordered living in God’s good creation. They are like putting a round peg in a round hole. But sin disrupts this order. It is like putting a square peg in a round hole. When one does that, something breaks. Transgressors stumble. The path then erupts into chaos and destruction.
This is the path Israel had chosen. They chose Baal over Yahweh. They chose Egypt over the God of Israel. They chose the wealthy over the poor. They brought chaos upon themselves. Transgressors create chaos and suffer the consequence.
But Israel still has a choice. Judah still has a choice. The wise will see through the chaos, discern the will of God, and choose to walk in the paths of Yahweh.
Which will we choose? Who is wise? Who will walk in the just paths of Yahweh?