To Walk or Stumble? To Rebel or Comply?
Hosea 14:9
"Let whoever is wise understand these things,
and whoever is insightful recognize them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
and the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.”
This verse comes at the end of Hosea's book. It is like a postscript.
What are “these things”?
The Moody Bible Commentary says this:
“The message of Hosea is the story of God’s jealous and yet unrelenting love for His wayward bride. A people chosen by grace and redeemed from slavery to serve the only true God, Israel failed to remain faithful to her Husband when she pursued other lovers by trusting in idols and foreign powers. God therefore promised to suspend His covenant blessings to Israel by sending the nation into exile so they would repent and appreciate God’s incomparable love when He graciously accepted them back again."
Why does Hosea say the "rebellious stumble in them?"
Some people do not believe in God, so they reject all of Hosea's message. This is unwise. Others view the concept of Israel being drawn to the Lord, just as they may have individually experienced, as unlikely because of certain ideas about God, His Word and His plans for the future. So, they only accept part of Hosea's message. This is also unwise.
But Hosea is clear about God’s plans to draw His wayward nation, Israel, to Himself. Right?
I agree. Consider the following passages in Hosea that predict an end of days restoration of Israel to her land and her God.
Hosea 3:4-5
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.
Hosea 5:15
I will depart and return to My place
until they recognize their guilt and seek My face;
they will search for Me in their distress.
Hosea 11:8-11
... I have had a change of heart; My compassion is stirred! I will not vent the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not come in rage. They will follow the Lord; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west. They will be roused like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes...
Hosea 14:4-9
I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger will have turned from him...
The people will return and live beneath his shade.They will grow grain and blossom like the vine...
Could "these things" just be general principles about walking with God found in Hosea?
Well, the principles of walking with God, turning away from idols, the reality of God's love etc., are certainly included and worthy of study. But Hosea's message includes more than general principles. It includes specifics about God's plans for Israel in the latter days. Let's not ignore, oversimplify or dumb it down. Let's study and accept Hosea's entire message.
True wisdom means compliance as the righteous recognize, understand and comply with all of Hosea's message.