Comments on Hosea 14 v1-3 is Hosea speaking words of admonition to Israel, encouraging repentance and reconciliation. He encourages Israel to return to the Lord because they have stumbled as a result of the rebellion (v. 1). He tells them to return to the Lord and ask Him to take away their sins (v. 2). He tells them to confess that relying political alliances with foreign nations and idolatry are the wrong way, and the only mercy an orphan can find is in the Lord (v. 3). v4-8 The Lord responds to repentant Israel and tells them He will heal them of their apostasy as His anger has turned away (v. 4). The Lord will now bless them according to the covenant with the bounty of Lebanon (v. 5-7, ct. 13:15). v5-7 Note the emphatic repetition of the blessings of bounty. When Israel finally does repent, the Lord will bless them abundantly. Compare this to Isaiah's descriptions of the Millennial Eden, cf. Isa. 51:3, Isa. 58:11, Isa. 61:11. The figurative blossoming of the nation like Eden clearly represents the renewed covenant relationship with the Lord and the subsequent blessings poured out upon them. v6 "His branches shall spread", cp. Isa. 11:1. v9 Hosea closes the book by saying whoever is wise will understand what he has said, but whoever is foolish will only stumble upon his words. The wicked are not enlightened by the Spirit so they cannot perceive the meaning of these words, and will continue to stumble about in ignorance. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.