Repentance and Recovery (Hosea 14)
The Israelites in the time of Hosea had departed from God and instead had looked to three alternatives for security: the false gods of the surrounding peoples, their own military strength, and the external political power of Assyria. They had engaged in a policy that may have been in line with what many people would have regarded as common sense – after all, was it not wise to have the most powerful empire in the world at that time as your shield? Also, having as many gods as possible would be regarded as useful. And many would say that it is good to be self-confident, to build up one’s own strengths. Yet from Hosea’s point of view, their response was sinful because they had done all this instead of trusting in the Lord. They did not see the disconnect between needing both false gods and human helpers. If the false gods were real, they would not have needed Assyrian help. Their sin was revealed in what they found security in. The outcome was that they had fallen, stumbled, and had no o