Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously… I. AN AWFUL FACT STATED. "Thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Israel had — 1. Fallen from their allegiance to God. 2. Fallen from His worship. 3. Fallen from the enjoyment of His favour. II. AN AFFECTIONATE EXHORTATION URGED. "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God." Observe — 1. The persons addressed. "Israel." 2. The nature of the address. "Return." 3. The object to whom they were to return. "The Lord thy God." III. INSTRUCTIVE DIRECTION ADMINISTERED. "Take with you words." Words of sincerity. Appropriate words. Words of humble confession. Words of petition. "Take away all iniquity" — 1. From our affections, that we may no longer love it. 2. From our consciences, that we may no longer labour under the burden of it. 3. From our lives, that it may no longer have dominion over us. 4. From our hearts, that we may be dead to it. "Receive us graciously." Receive our prayers. Receive our persons. Receive us into Thy favour. IV. RETURNS OF GRATITUDE EXPRESSED. "Render calves of our lips." 1. Gratitude is a debt which all owe to, God. 2. Gratitude is a debt which gracious souls are ready to pay. Learn — (1) That neither our civil nor religious privileges will preclude the possibility of falling by iniquity. (2) That those who have fallen by iniquity should be induced to return to the Lord their God. (3) Those whose iniquity is taken away should bless the Lord. (C. Simeon, 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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