Hosea 14:8

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. EPHRAIM SHALL SAY, WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANYMORE WITH IDOLS? - being brought to penitence by God's goodness, and confessing and abhorring his past madness. I HAVE HEARD HIM, AND OBSERVED HIM - I Yahweh have answered and regarded him with favour: the opposite of God's former denunciation, "I will hide my face from them" (). It is the experience of God's favour, in contrast to God's wrath heretofore, that leads Ephraim to abhor his past idolatry. Yahweh heard and answered; whereas the idols, as Ephraim now sees, could not hear, much less answer. I AM LIKE A GREEN FIR - or cypress: ever green, winter and summer alike: the leaves not falling off in winter....

The Prophet again introduces the Israelites speaking as before, that they would deplore their blindness and folly, and renounce in future their superstitions. The confession then which we have before noticed is here repeated; and it is a testimony of true repentance when men, being ashamed, are displeased with themselves on account of their sins, and apply their minds to God’s service, and detest their whole former life. To this subject belongs what the Prophet now says. It is a concise discourse; but yet its brevity contains nothing obscure. _Ephraim, _he says, _What have I to do with idols? _There is indeed a verb understood, ‘Ephraim “shall say”, What have I to do with idols?’ But still it is evident enough what the Prophet means. There is then in these words, as I have said, a sincere confession; for the ten tribes express their detestation of their folly, that they had alienated the...

4-8 Israel seeks God's face, and they shall not seek it in vain. His anger is turned from them. Whom God loves, he loves freely; not because they deserve it, but of his own good pleasure. God will be to them all they need. The graces of the Spirit are the hidden manna, hidden in the dew; the grace thus freely bestowed on them shall not be in vain. They shall grow upward, and be more flourishing; shall grow as the lily. The lily, when come to its height, is a lovely flower, Matthew 6:28; Matthew 6:29. They shall grow downward, and be more firm. With the flower of the lily shall be the strong root of the cedar of Lebanon. Spiritual growth consists most in the growth of the root, which is out of sight. They shall also spread as the vine, whose branches extend very widely. When believers abound in good works, then thei...

Verse Hosea 14:8. _WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANY MORE WITH IDOLS?_] The conversion of Ephraim is now as complete as it was sincere. God hears and observes this. _I_ AM _LIKE A GREEN FIR TREE._] Perhaps these words should be joined to the preceding, as _Newcome_ has done, and be a part of God's speech to Ephraim. "I have heard him; and I have seen him as a flourishing fir tree." He is become strong and vigorous; and from his present appearance of healthiness, his future increase and prosperity may be safely anticipated. _FROM ME IS THY FRUIT FOUND._] All thy goodness springs from the principle of grace which I have planted in thy soul; for as the earth cannot bring forth fruit without the blessing of God, sending the _dews_ and _rains_, with the _genial rays_ of the sun, so neither can the soul of man, e

EPHRAIM SHALL SAY, WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANYMORE WITH IDOLS? - So Isaiah fortells, “The idols He shall utterly abolish” Isaiah 2:18. Aforetime Ephraim said obstinately, in the midst of God’s chastisements; “I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink” Hosea 2:5. Now she shall renounce them wholly and forever. This is entire conversion, to part wholly with everything which would dispute the allegiance with God, to cease to look to any created thing or being, for what is the gift of the Creator alone. So the Apostle says, “what concord hath Christ with Belial?” 2 Corinthians 6:15. This verse exhibits in few, vivid, words, converted Ephraim

EXPOSITION HOSEA 14:1 The foregoing part of this book abounds with denunciations of punishment; this closing chapter superabounds with promises of pardon. Wave after wave of threatened wrath had rolled over Israel and come in unto their soul; now offer after offer of grace is made to them. O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God. The invitation to return implies previous departure, or distance, or wandering from God. The return to which they are invited is expressed, not by אֶל, to or towards, but by ער, quite up to, or as far as right home; the penitent, therefore, is not merely to turn his mind or his face toward God, but to turn his face and his feet home to God; he is not to go half the way and then turn aside, or part of the way and then turn back, but the whole way; in other words, his repentance is to be complete and entire, wanting nothing, according

EPHRAIM [SHALL SAY], WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANY MORE WITH IDOLS?.... This is to be understood, not of apostate Ephraim, as in the times of the prophet, who was so wedded and glued to the idols, that there was no hope of getting him from them; and therefore is bid to let him alone, Hosea 4:17; but of Ephraim Israel returning to God at his call, under the influence of his grace, in the latter day, Hosea 14:1. Idols are the same with the works of their hands, Hosea 14:3; and to be interpreted, not of graven or molten images, to the worship of which the Jews have not been addicted since their captivity to this day; see Hosea 3:4; but of the idols of their hearts, their

Hosea 14:1. _O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity._ Let anyone here, who has turned aside from the Lord, hear these tender pleading words, and then yield to him who utters them. God speaks, not to condemn, but to comfort. He would fain allure you back to him with his gracious words of love: «O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.» Hosea 14:2. _Take with you words, and turn to the Lord:_ But the poor penitent cries, «Alas, Lord, I do not know what to say. So God puts in the sinner's mouth the very words he is to utter. Hosea 14:2. _Say unto him. Take away all iniquity,_ That is where

CHAPTER 14 The Return and the Glorious Redemption _ 1. The exhortation to return (Hosea 14:1) _ 2. The glorious redemption (Hosea 14:4) Hosea 14:1. This chapter is a wonderful finale to the messages of Hosea. What tender entreaties! What gracious assurance! What glorious promises of a future redemption! it is Jehovah beseeching His people, those who had forsaken Him, outraged His character of holiness and who had despised Him. First is the call to return. God's hands are tied as long as His people stay away from Him and do not return to Him in true repentance. No true salvation and deliverance for His people is possible without a true heart return unto Him. It is this for which He looks and waits....

HOSEA 14:1 (Heb. Hosea 14:2). ISRAEL'S REPENTANCE AND YAHWEH'S FORGIVENESS. The section begins with a passionate appeal to Israel to repent and confess his sin (Hosea 14:1 f.). A promise of amendment (spoken by Israel) follows he will no longer put his trust in foreign alliances and idols (Hosea 14:3). Yahweh now assures Israel of forgiveness; His anger is turned away, and the regenerated people shall blossom as the lily (Hosea 14:4). Ephraim repeats his renunciation of idols, and Yahweh answers graciously, the dialogue being continued ...