157. HOS 14:1, HOS 14:2. ISRAEL EXHORTED TO RETURN TO GOD
Hos_14:1, Hos_14:2. Israel Exhorted to Return to God
"O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips."’97Hos_14:1, Hos_14:2.
In the text we have two things; I. A solemn Declaration. And, II. An affectionate Exhortation.
Notice,
I. The solemn Declaration.
"O Israel, thou hast fallen by thine iniquity."
This declaration is universally applicable to all men, as well as to Israel of old. Observe,
1. Man is fallen.
Fallen from the divine likeness’97from the divine family’97from the divine favor. Temple in ruins; glory departed. Naturally without God, and without hope, in the world. Totally fallen. The whole soul degraded, wretched, and vile. Observe, we are,
2. Fallen by iniquity.
Obedience united man to God. Iniquity broke the link’97dissolved the connection’97Drought misery and disease into the soul, and death and wo into the world. The root of human nature became corrupt, hence all the branches are corrupt too. Fountain became polluted; hence all the streams are filthy. Parents were diseased, and have entailed disease and misery upon all their posterity. Rom_3:10; Rom_5:12; Mat_7:17; Psa_51:5. Observe,
3. Man is fallen by his own iniquity.
"Thine own." We are fallen in Adam; but we are also fallen personally, and practically. We have "all sinned," &c. "All gone astray," &c. We have sinned often; sinned in heart, and with lip, and in life. We have sinned against both tables of the law; and against all the grace of the gospel. Now, this fallen estate is one of dishonor, of wretchedness, and of imminent peril: "Wages of sin, death."
Notice,
II. The affectionate Exhortation.
"O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God."
1. We must return.
Not go onwards in our course of sin any longer. Retrace our steps. Arise, as the prodigal did, and return to our Father’s house.
2. We must return to God.
The Being we have offended, rejected; despised; the Being who might justly destroy us; yet, the Being who still calls himself, "our God." He only can pardon, accept, and bless us. "To whom shall we go," &c.
3. We must take with us words.
(1) Words of contrite confession. Prodigal. Publican. "If we confess our sins," &c. "Whoso confesseth," &c.
(2) Words of earnest supplication "Take away all our iniquity." Iniquity has ruined us. We are only saved, when it is taken away. Guilt taken away; defilement taken away; dominion taken away; love of it taken away; all of it taken away; that our souls may be washed, justified, and sanctified by the word, and Spirit, and blood of Christ.
(3) Words of holy pleading. "Receive us graciously." Receive us into thy favor, service, and family, "graciously;" that is, gratuitously, of thy free mercy; as we have no merit to give. "Graciously;" that is, according to the rules of thy grace by Christ Jesus. We cannot be received on the ground of innocence, for we are guilty; on the ground of merit, for we are altogether polluted and vile; on the ground of price, for we are insolvent debtors, and have nothing to pay: so, if we are received, it must be of grace, not of works, &c.; Eph_2:8.
(4) Words of self-dedication. "So will are render the calves of our lips." "Our lips shall praise and celebrate thy forgiving grace;" Psa_40:1, Psa_40:2. Our lips shall hold holy converse with thee. Our lips shall speak of thee, and for thee, before men. Our lips, in concert with our hearts, and in connection with our lives, shall be thine forever.
Application
1. Sinners, learn your true condition. Stop! Reflect! Consider your ways, and be wise! 2. Return unto God. Do not continue to grieve his love’97to insult his goodness’97and to despise his grace. 3. Return now; while you are invited; while God’s gracious sceptre is extended to you: before sin involve you in eternal and irreparable ruin. 4. Return in God’s appointed way. It is suited to your state; the only way by which you can come to him; and the way wherein you shall assuredly find pardon, and peace, and eternal life.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS