Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously… I. THESE VERSES IN THEIR PRIMARY REFERENCE TO ISRAEL. 1. The prophet calls upon the people to return unto the Lord their God. He was their God in an especial manner. He had never been wanting to them while they owned and served Him as the Lord their God. He directs them in what manner and with what spirit they should return. They were to take with them words, and make their petition to this effect, that God would be pleased to "take away all iniquity." To take away the guilt of it, and grant them His gracious pardon: to take away the power of it, and grant them His effectual grace to resist and subdue it. They were to pray that God would receive them graciously, graciously implying that merit was not to be pleaded in any degree by the petitioners. They were to promise the tribute of their lips, grateful language flowing from a grateful heart. In returning to the Lord the people were further to express their renunciation of all former and false confidences. And they were frankly to acknowledge that Jehovah alone was the effectual succour of the helpless and destitute. II. CONSIDER THESE VERSES AS OF MORE GENERAL EXTENT IN THEIR APPLICATION. Kingdoms and nations may "fall by their iniquity." 1. There is a cad to wandering sinners to return unto the Lord their God. A door of hope is left open for them. 2. God uses inducements. He assures the sinner that he has "fallen by his iniquity." Every sinner is fallen from that state of happiness and holiness in which God originally created man. 3. You are to take words and pray. The removal of sin must take place in order to our restoration. If the guilt of it is not taken away by pardoning grace, the wrath of God must abide on us. If the power of it is not broken, and the love of it subdued in the soul, it must exclude us from the holy and happy society of God and glorified spirits above. 4. You are to entreat that God would "receive you graciously": take you into His favour, and admit you into His family. 5. Such surprising grace will demand the most fervent affections of your hearts, and the most devoted and obedient submission of your lives. 6. You are to approach the throne of grace with a solemn and deliberate disavowal of all forbidden dependencies, and an acknowledgment that the God of grace is the only helper of helpless sinners. Glorify God by acknowledging the freeness and fulness of His grace, and by accepting the blessed and complete deliverance offered to you in the Gospel. (S. Knight, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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