Returning by the grace of God

Date: 19 April 2026, 9.30 am

Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Text: Hosea 14:1-9 

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Blessed Sunday to all. It is good that we can come together to worship God as one family.

If you are relatively new to Hermon, we pray that you will experience the warmth of our hospitality.

For those who are joining us online because you are home-bound, we want to just say that your presence is missed.

And we are looking forward to the day when you can come and worship God with us physically here in Henderson.

Today, we come to the final chapter of the book of Hosea.

As a recap, Hosea can be divided into basically 2 segments.

The first is chapter 1 to 3, and Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is a living picture of Isreal’s spiritual adultery and God’s gracious redeeming love.

Then from Hosea 4 to 14, Hosea drills down into details about Israel’s spiritual adultery.

There is false worship, there is moral corruption, there are man-centred help in political alliances, there is also unfaithful leadership.

And so, we have noticed the stern warning Hosea gives to Israel. If you continue in this direction, God will severely discipline you.

Not because He hates you but because He loves you and is faithful to the covenant He has made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

But this discipline will be very painful, Hosea warns, it will be exile.

Yet this exile by Assyria, shows us also that God is truly sovereign. For He can use a foreign army of pagans and idol worshippers to discipline His own children.

Now, if we are honest, if we were in God’s place, and we experience the adultery of Gomer in Hosea 1 & 2 and the idolatry of Israel in Hosea 4 to 13, I think all of us would tell Hosea your book ends there.

There is nothing more to say, Gomer and Isreal have been repeatedly unfaithful. They have not heeded the warnings of Hosea, God’s spokesman.

They are a hopeless cause. Let us cut ties permanently.

But thanks be to God, our Heavenly Father is not like that.

In Hosea 3 God instructs Hosea, go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress.

Hosea 3 ends with -

Hos 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

The word return also begins Hosea 14. And ‘return’ is repeated twice, v1 and v7.

Hos 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity …. 7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain;

If not for Hosea 3 and 14, then Israel will lose all hope. But because of Hosea 3 and 14, the last word is not despair due to exile, but hope due to grace.

In 1998, Dawn and I were visiting the US and we had driven from San Diego to LA. After spending time in Disney Land, we were going to drive up north to San Francisco.

In those days, there was no GPS, so we relied on physical maps and road signs.

So, we set off in the early morning, from LA, desiring to be in San Francisco 10 hours later.

But in the first hour, as we travelled, the map and the road signs didn’t match. We were puzzled, why were the signs pointing us to San Diego and not San Francisco?

To our horror, we realized we had been reading the map upside down. And because of it, instead of getting to our destination, we were going further and further away from it.

A proper orientation of the map and a U-turn was needed to get us back on track. The consequence was wasted time and fuel and lots of unconstructive dialogue in the car.

On a much more serious note, Hosea ends his book with the call for Isreal to do a U-turn as well. If Israel wants to truly have a right relationship with their covenant God, then Israel needs to heed God’s call to return.

And I submit that Hosea 14 will flesh out what it means to return to the Lord.

To return would mean for Israel true repentance. To return to the Lord would mean experiencing God’s restoration. And to return would reveal that they are truly God’s people.

The call for true Repentance (v1-3)

The call for Isreal to return is the call for true repentance.

Hos 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2 Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”

Repentance is stopping from going in a particular direction and a 180 degree about turn to head in the opposite direction.

Repentance is not just experiencing a feeling of guilt or sorrow for what you have done but it’s a repudiation of it.

It’s when we experience hatred for the sin itself and not just for its consequences. It’s saying no longer shall I do that, I will turn around and flee from it.

And biblical repentance is not just fleeing away from our sin but running back to God and no other.

So Hosea says, Israel is to show repentance by firstly realizing that they have stumbled because of their iniquity.

Repentance involves the conviction that we have sin, that we have not been faithful to God, that we have played the whore.

And if you read the testimonies of godly people, you will notice that the closer they are to God, the clearer they see their sins and by the same token, the more they appreciate God’s grace.

Secondly, Hosea says, Israel is to verbalize their conviction of sin before the Lord. We are to plead with God, take away our iniquity.

Returning to God means repenting to Him in our prayers, vocalizing that we have indeed committed iniquity before Him.

And in our prayers, asking for His mercy, to forgive, to take away our iniquity.

This means we don’t have the attitude that says, this is just the way I am, it’s how I’m wired, I cannot change.

No, we are convicted of our sins and we plead with God, I don’t want to sin anymore, please in your mercy, forgive me.

Church, God is all knowing. He hears not just what is in our mouths but also sees our intentions and our thoughts.

Hosea warns, do not say empty words of confession but pay with the bulls the vows of our lips. And this is the third visible action step.

Bulls were used for the sacrifices at the altar, so Hosea is saying, make sure your words come from the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart.

On this side of the cross, Hebrews says the same thing -

Heb 13:15 Through him (Christ) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Church, God has seen through the hypocrisy of the Israelites and He will see through ours as well.

Church, we may fool others, we may fool even ourselves, but we cannot fool God.

Next, from the general, Israel is taught, you must also confess the specifics.

Specifics number 1 – confess your dependence on Assyria. Say to God, I admit that Assyria shall not save us.

So in today’s terms, don’t put your faith in our professional standing in the society, don’t turn away from God and rely on our wealth of contacts and connections.

Specifics number 2 – confess your dependence on horses, that is military might. In those days, Egypt was the provider of horses for chariots and cavalry.

So in today’s terms, don’t depend on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that has advance fighter aircrafts and ballistic missiles.  

Specifics number 3 – confess your dependence on the work of your hands. Hands that speak of self-reliance, hands that have fashion idols that have replaced God.

So in today’s terms, don’t depend on your qualifications, your achievements, your career experience, your financial means, your health.

Hos 1:8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People,

Remember in chapter 1, Hosea was asked to name his children. And their names would represent God’s relationship with Israel.

Hosea’s second child was a daughter and God said call her No Mercy, for I will no more, have mercy on the house of Israel.

Hosea’s third child, was to be named, Not My People.

Now in Hosea 14:3, God is reversing these 2 names. Though they are not His people, they are orphans, yet, they will have mercy.

In these words, the helpless, the rejected, find hope.

God is gracious. He gives us what we do not deserve. God is merciful, He does not give us as our sins deserve.

While we were still enemies of God, Christ died for us. We should have been punished for our sins, but Christ took on the punishment.

And in redeeming us, He gave us life eternal and reconciliation.

One pastor said this about Hosea which I think is worth sharing.

He said, Hosea gives us 2 reasons for repentance.

Firstly, through his warnings, he tells us that we are going in the wrong direction and that the consequences of not turning around are severe.

So we need to thank Hosea for the warnings.

But there is another reason that Hosea gives to encourage us to confess. And that is God’s mercies.

God’s mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness.

If there is no hope of mercy, why would we want to run back to God with our confession?

But there is! God guarantees that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9).

So, in my words, there is both the stick and the carrot to encourage us to repent.

Where are you today, are you beginning to drift, are you just off centre, not quite true north.

Or are you already pointing south?

Wherever our life compass may be pointing, Scripture exhorts us, return to the Lord. And as we return, the first step is repentance.

The promise of God’s Restoration (v4-7)

Today, if a son goes to his father and says, can you give me my inheritance now? How would most parent’s take it?

Would it be seen as something normal, advance legacy planning? Or would it be seen as extremely rude and disrespectful?

I would think it would be the latter.

Image as Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, 20 centuries ago, how shocking that request must have sounded.

To add to that, it was known that the prodigal son spent all the inheritance with reckless living. There was no legacy planning, just Y.O.L.O (you only live once) attitude.

When the prodigal son arrives home, this is what the Father did:

Lk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

That’s grace isn’t it. The father showering this son with what he did not deserve.

Hos 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; 6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:4-7, I submit is giving us a similar picture.  

Like the father of the prodigal son, God takes all the initiative. I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, I will be like the dew to Israel.

God takes the initiative to fix the root problem – apostasy, our turning away from him. This is our fallen nature which God will actively heal.

In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises that he will give us a new heart and a new spirit.

When we in repentance turn towards God, this is a visible sign that God has already given us a new heart and a new spirit.

This Scripture says, is the process of sanctification. Of becoming more and more like Jesus.

The last verse of chapter 13 says, because Samaria has rebelled against her God, they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

But when Israel returns to her God, God says, I will love them freely. God will not love us reluctantly, or reservedly or resentfully.

No, He will love us freely. This is full and abounding love.

And to emphasize this even more, God’s love is freely given and His anger has been turned away.

Romans 5 helps explain it further.

Rom 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

So God has removed their sin, freely pours out His love and turns His anger away from them.

On this side of Calvary, we know this happens when we confess our sin and our helplessness and put our faith in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To give us additional handles as to such bountiful restoration, Hosea gives 4 images from agriculture.

Firstly, God will be like the dew to Israel.

In an arid land, morning dew is a lifeline. Dew is present every morning and it is not spectacular like a thunderstorm.

But God promises to be faithful and consistent in His provision of life-giving sustenance.

Every breadth we take, every step we take, it is all by God’s sustaining hand. Nothing happens outside of God’s knowledge and permission.

Because of God’s tender loving care, the next image is that of the lily. Israel will blossom like the beautiful flower.

When we return to God, the ugliness of our sin is replaced by the beauty of righteousness.

Referencing Galatians 5, I submit the beauty is that of the fruit of the Spirit and not of the flesh.

The third image is that of the sturdy cedars trees of Lebanon. The idea that Israel will be tall, strong, upright and stable.

That means they will have strong and deep roots that allows them to withstand the storms of life. They will have the strength to overcome the temptations that assail.

In addition, in v6, by their stability, they also impact others in a positive manner. The fragrance of Lebanon is experienced by others.

Finally, they will have the beauty of the olive. Olives was an important source of food, a staple in their diet.

Besides food, Olives also provided oil for their lamps. The Olive tree is also an evergreen plant, able to bear fruit in multiple seasons.

God will enable Isreal to be bountiful and useful.

Hoses 14:7, gives then a summary picture – a picture of goodness, blessing, plenty and joy.

Israel will dwell securely under God’s protection, the fields will be filled with grain to be harvested and the vines will be full of grapes and they will be admired by others, like the wine of Lebanon.

What a blissful picture of our restoration when we return.

But hey, you will say, this is not a reality in my life!

This Eden-like environment is so so far different from what I’m experiencing.

The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 bear out your reality. The life of the Apostles also bear out this reality. Ultimately the earthy life of Jesus bears this out too.

But the bible does not lie. This is a reality.

But since we live still in this sin-filled world, on this side of eternity, this reality is not experienced in full yet.

Yet in this sin-filled world, amidst all our challenges, we can still rejoice.

The Apostles in Acts 5, they were imprisoned by the religious leaders due to jealously.

Appearing before the Pharisees, they testified about Jesus and Scripture records, the Pharisees wanted to kill them.

After an intervention by one of the leaders, they were let go with a serious warning. And Scripture says, they left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name.

Hebrews 12:2 says these Apostles were no different from their master Jesus.

Hebrews says for the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The reality of Hosea 14:7 is present, but its fullness will be experienced when Jesus comes again.

Yet, even now, when we have returned to Jesus, we can sing –

What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good.

Where is His grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer's blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial?

Who sends the waves that bring us nigh, Unto the shore? The rock of Christ

Oh, sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal

Oh, sing hallelujah, Now and ever we confess

Christ, our hope in life and death

As we take that step to return, church, bountiful restoration awaits.

The Revealing of God’s people (v8-9)

Finally when we return to God, we are revealing that we are His people.

Hos 14:8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. 9  Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

God challenges us with the proof that He is way above idols. Idols are made with human hands, they cannot respond, they cannot redeem.

Instead, God says, He has answered. God has answered like the faithful bridegroom of Hosea 2.

Hos 2:20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. 21 “And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, 22 and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, 23 and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’ ”

Unlike idols, God has also look after Israel. He has watched over Israel. Everything Israel has committed, God knows.

Like a protective parent, God has been watching painfully as Israel, the wilful child has played the whore.

And time and time again, God has sent Hosea to warn Israel.

The proactive steps that God has done for Israel, reveals that He views Israel as His covenant people.

And so, God renews the picture of Eden. Eden was lost when Adam and Eve sinned.

Now God says, I am the evergreen cypress tree. God is the evergreen tree of life.

And in God’s all-sufficiency He offers His fruits of eternal life for all who are in personal communion with Him.

We now come to the concluding verse of Hosea. It fits in well with the wisdom tradition of the bible. It gives the readers a choice to take the better option.

The wise choice that leads to walking in newness of life or the wrong choice that leads to stumbling in transgressions.

Church, the call is to reveal whose we are. May we be the wise, for we discern that the ways of the Lord are right.

We are like the blessed man of Psalm 1. The blessed man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked but delights in the law of the Lord.

We are like the wise builders of Matthew 7. The builder who builds on the solid rock by listening to Jesus Words and does them. And so, will not experience the fate of the foolish builders who build on sand.

Conclusion

Church, how can a holy God say I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely? This is made possible solely because of Jesus Christ.

At the cross, our spiritual adultery was laid upon Him. Our guilt was fully paid and God’s righteous anger was turned away.

The promises of Hosea are thus fulfilled in Christ.

We have healing through the wounds of Christ. We receive love through His sacrifice and we have restoration through union with Him.

Our closing hymn Grace Greater Than Our Sin beautifully captures the message of Hosea 14.

God’s grace is greater than all our sin, deeper than all our wandering and stronger than all our failures.

Church, may the truth of Hosea settle deep in our hearts.

Hosea says, return for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Return not because you are worthy, no, simply return.

In Christ, your past does not disqualify you.

In Christ, your failure does not define you.

In Christ, you sin does not have the final word.

So let us sing joyfully - Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.

Reflection Questions

1. What would true repentance look like in your life right now? What might the genuine heart-felt words you would say to the Lord be?

2. How might it look like for a Christian to live, believing that God’s grace can restore abundantly? Which image (dew, lily, cedar, olive) of restoration appeals most to you today?

3. Would family and friends affirm that you can be associated with the ‘wise’ of Hosea 14:9? If so, how might you continue to walk in the ways of the Lord.