Hosea 12-14

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God” (14:1). Hosea described what real repentance would look like for the Israelites who wanted to return to the Lord. It meant turning away from human sources of salvation - “Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses” (14:3) - and rejecting idolatry. “We will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands.” Finally, repentance included recognizing God as both King and compassionate Savior. “In you the orphan finds mercy” (14:3).

“I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely” (14:4). The good news is that when we turn to the Lord in real repentance, He is quick to forgive and accept us.