Hosea Part 09

Hosea 13–14 contains some of the most noticeable contrasts in the book—between judgment and mercy, sin and repentance, idolatry and true worship. In Hosea 13:1–3, Ephraim had once been so powerful that when they spoke, others trembled—but when they turned to idol worship, they lost their power! God warned that judgment would come swiftly, saying He would dissipate them as easy as smoke blown away—a warning that still applies to us today. The phrase “kiss the calves” refers to idolatrous worship, literally meaning “bring to the mouth.” This act of idolatry is later contrasted in Hosea 14:2, where Israel is told to offer “the sacrifices of our lips” instead.

In Hosea 13:4, God makes a powerful statement, echoing Deuteronomy 32:39 and Acts 4:12: 

“I am the LORD your God . . . there is no savior besides Me.” 

Only God—through Jesus Christ—can save. Verses 5–8 describe a sobering transformation: because of Israel’s sin, God changed from a caring, protecting shepherd to a ravaging predator, tearing and devouring in judgment.

Hosea 13:9–11 reinforces that no human ruler can save. Israel had asked for a king instead of God (1 Samuel 8:7), and now, God says, “I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in My wrath.” This may refer to King Saul, the removal of Hoshea when Samaria fell, or even prophetically to the end of the British royal line when Christ returns.

In verses 12–13, Israel’s sin is stored up, like a baby stuck in the birth canal without the wisdom to turn it properly—an extremely dangerous condition. It’s a graphic picture of a nation unable to bring forth life or deliverance. Historically, dying in childbirth was a leading cause of death, underscoring the seriousness of Israel’s condition.

But in Hosea 13:14, we see a sharp contrast: God has power over death! This verse points ahead to resurrection and ultimate victory just as 1 Corinthians 15:54–55. 

“O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

God sees death as an enemy to be destroyed.

Verses 15–16 continue with judgment: the east wind (representing Assyria) would bring destruction, just as we discussed in Hosea 12:1. God’s punishment would be total, affecting women, children and men indiscriminately (Hosea 10:14; 2 Kings 15:16; Isaiah 13:16; Amos 1:13).

Yet finally, in Hosea 14, the book turns toward long-awaited repentance, likely a millennial prophecy. In many ways, this is the most beautiful chapter in the book, returning to the overarching theme of God’s unfailing love. Hosea 14:1 opens with a plea: 

“Return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.”

Verse 2 portrays Israel asking for forgiveness: “Take away all iniquity,” echoing Psalm 51:2. They are told to “Take words,” offering the sacrifices of our lips—the true sacrifice of God: a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17; Jeremiah 33:11; Hebrews 13:15). This sincere worship is the opposite of Hosea 5:6, where worthless animal sacrifices were rejected.

In Hosea 14:3, Israel promises not to trust in false gods or political alliances anymore—no more turning to idols. Instead, they turn to the LORD, where they find mercy—Ruhammah, as seen in Hosea 2:1.

Verse 7 offers a beautiful image of security: “They shall dwell under His shadow,” a phrase echoed in Psalm 91:1 and always relevant to God’s church. Hosea 14:4–9 then gives a beautiful description of God’s great love, which will be fulfilled in the millennium—and after. God declares: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely.” This chapter ends the book of Hosea with hope, restoration, and the eternal truth that God’s love never fails. 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org 

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.