Hos 14:5  

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots: God’s ultimate goal is restoration of His people. He disciplined Israel to help them appreciate the goodness of God. When the return to Him through repentance He will be like morning dew to them and they will flourish.

Application: we get involved with all sorts of gods during our lives, none that satisfy. For those that realize only your Maker can fulfill the desires of your heart, they too like Israel will repent and enjoy eternity in the presence of their loving God.

Hos 13:4  

But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me: God is a jealous God Ex 34:14. He loves His people but will not accept idolatry. He warned Israel that He would punish them Hos 13:8,16.

Application: God hasn’t changed Heb 13:8. He will not allow us to follow false gods without disciplining us. Jesus demonstrated God’s great love for us at the Cross, let us show our gratitude by living righteous lives obeying the Lord in all things.

Hos 12:6  

But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always: Israel continued to repeat the cycle of sin, repentance, and obedience. God ordered His people to repent and follow His laws as He reminded them of their sinful ways Hos 12:7,8.

Application: it is interesting that God included waiting on Him always. When circumstances are difficult it is our tendency to turn to temporal comforts such as sex, drugs, buying sprees, etc. rather than waiting on the Lord and being soothed by His promises (such as Ro 8:28).

Hos 11:1  

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son: this verse has double meaning. On the historical level, it is referring to the Israelites, God’s people, who in the past were delivered from the bondage of the Egyptians. But it is also prophetic, referring to Jesus, God’s Son, who’s family would flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s attempt to kill the Messiah. After Herod’s death, God would direct Joseph and Mary to return to Israel where Jesus would grow up and become the Savior of mankind.

Application: Knowing that God is sovereign and controls history should comfort us when we enter trials and times of uncertainty. He promises us that He can work all things out for our good Ro 8:28. Therefore, let us remain faithful and trust God through the circumstances that we encounter.

Hos 10:12   

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you: the Lord would punish Israel for their falling away and turning to idols. However, God challenged His people to sow righteousness so they would reap love as He desired to bless them.

Application: God desires to bless us but will only be pleased with righteous living. He has given us His Word so that we know what pleases the Lord Eph 5:10.

Hos 9:11   

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird—no birth, no pregnancy, no conception: Ephraim has been unfaithful committing sinful deeds, not obeying the Lord Hos 9:15. Therefore God  will slay her children Hos 9:16.

Application: Many times we think God hasn’t seen what we’ve done because there is no immediate retribution. However, God is a just God and will write all wrongs in His time. Let us avoid judgment and serve Him with a sincere heart and rid ourselves of evil thoughts and actions.

Hos 8:14   

Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses: Man hasn’t changed. At the Tower of Babel he rebelled against God believing that building a mighty city would protect them from obeying God’s will Gen 11:4. Now they have placed their faith in their manmade palaces and fortified cities. But God warned them that He would consume them.

Application: We think money can protect us from our enemies and we have no need of God but nothing has changed Ecc 1:9. God is the source and sustainer of all life and those who forget Him will suffer Isa 51:12,13.

Hos 7:14   Adobe Color: 262a2e

They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me: God wanted repentance from the heart not because they wanted their circumstances changed 2 Co 7:10. Instead of turning to the Lord they turned to idols where they would cut themselves thinking that would appease these gods to show favor and bless their crops. Only God has the power to change circumstances and unfortunately Israel was blinded to the truth.

Application: When I have done wrong I have to be honest with God and admit my sin from my heart which shows godly repentance. If I only want my circumstances to change God loves me too much to allow me out of my trial. He disciplines me for my good Heb 12:10.

Hos 6:2   

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence: Israel rejected the kingdom at Christ’s first coming. Now God prophesied that after two days­—two thousand years 2 Pe 3:8 He would revive His people by bringing them back to their land (1948). This generation would not pass away before the Lord restored His people with His presence Mt 24:34.

Application: we were given the assignment to watch and not be asleep when the Lord returned Mt 25:11,12,13. Let us be faithful to our calling.

Hos 5:14   

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them: God prophesied that He would discipline Judah like a lion who tears his prey to pieces. The purpose of discipline is to open hearts to repentance. God’s goal is to restore Judah through the experience of misery Hos 5:15.

Application: the opposite of love is not hate but indifference. When a parent allows a child to participate in destructive acts without disciplining the negative behaviour, we know that love is missing. God’s discipline demonstrates His care and concern for His children Heb 12:8.

Hos 4:6   

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children: the knowledge the people rejected was righteous living as they wilfully desired to live sinful lives. They turned their backs on God Hos 4:1 so God had rejected them. Israel’s stubbornness lead to that generation’s destruction.

Application: ignorance of God’s Word will lead to destruction. God’s Word guides us into victory, peace and harmony. Ignoring truth will have eternal consequences. Let us not make the same mistake that Israel made.

Hos 3:1   Adobe Color: 403813

The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes:” the Lord made Hosea purchase his wife back from the prostitution business and commanded him to love her as He loves the Israelites. It was a concrete example of the kind of love that the Lord has for His people, even though they do not deserve it as they were unfaithful.

Application: we were unfaithful to God and were enemies to His holiness but Jesus provided a way back so now let us be faithful in all we do for the kingdom of God.

Hos 2:23   

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God:’” God’s people had been unfaithful to Him so He punished them but because of His love for them He will restore them. The two will be ultimately reconciled through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

Application: As Christians, our sins have been taken away by Jesus’ sacrifice Col 2:13. The evil we did in the pass God remembers no longer. We serve a God of mercy and grace and that should fill our hearts with gratitude and love for our Lover.

Hos 1:2   

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord:” the Lord wanted to give Israel a concrete example of their unfaithfulness to Him. Mankind can relate to the pain an adulterous wife can cause a faithful husband and thus Hosea was chosen to fulfill this sad emotional role.

Application: nothing hurts more than to pledge your life to a spouse who is unfaithful to her vows. Most can relate how God felt when Israel turned to foreign gods and committed idolatry. Amazingly, God gives Israel another chance. Let us heed our vow to be faithful to the Lord only.