Hosea 14

14 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
    for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2 Take with you words
    and return to the Lord;
say to him,
    “Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
    and we will pay with bulls
    the vows[a] of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us;
    we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
    to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”

4 I will heal their apostasy;
    I will love them freely,
    for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
    he shall blossom like the lily;
    he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6 his shoots shall spread out;
    his beauty shall be like the olive,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 They shall return and dwell beneath my[b] shadow;
    they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
    their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
    It is I who answer and look after you.[c]
I am like an evergreen 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 upright walk in them,
    but transgressors stumble in them.

  • In Hosea 14, does God ask Israel to bring sacrifices instead of words when they return? (No)

    Does God ask us to trust in our own strenght and the strength of our nation (No)

    Does God promise to heal Israel’s apostasy in Hosea 14? (Yes)

    Does God say He will love Israel freely? (Yes)

    Do the righteous walk in God’s ways? (Yes)

    1. Do you have any questions or thoughts from this lesson?

    2. What stood out to you most?

    3. How does this chapter help you view God’s redeeming love?

    4. Why is repentance so important?

    5. In what ways do you think apostasy needs healing rather than just forgiveness?

    6. How do we trust in God and not in ourselves or other outside sources?

    7. How do we tangibly live this lesson out?

    1. How was your emotional and physical health this week?

    2. What is a serious stressor in your life?

    3. How has your personal time with God been this week?

    4. Would you like to share your personal temptations and how can we help you overcome them?

    5. Is there anything that we need to discuss that we have not already?

    6. How can we pray for each other this week?

    Pray for one another, invite each person to pray even if it is just a few sentences.