Book of Hosea Chapter 14 Vs. 5

 A Plea to Return to the Lord

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Hos. 14:5

I will be... The Lord, who have pardoned, and am appeased, will be as the dew, refresh and water, that they may grow, and that they may be fruitful and flourish, as the dew in those countries, where it was more abundant than with us, and for some months together supplied the want of rain. God will refresh and comfort, and make fruitful in good works, through his grace, for those who return to him.

הָיָה

hâyâh

haw-yaw'

A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use.

unto Israel... Those that are trusting people who are not hypocritical; but those who confess, pray, and repent.

יִשְׂרָאֵל

yiśrâ'êl

yis-raw-ale'

From H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: - Israel.

he shall grow... Which grows apace, is fragrant, beautiful, and delights in valleys, often grows among thorns; so the Israel of God among troubles in low state, yet comely, and fragrant to the Lord, and grows up in him speedily.

פָּרַח

pârach

paw-rakh'

A primitive root; to break forth as a bud, that is, bloom; generally to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively to flourish: - X abroad, X abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up).

roots as Lebanon... Put for the trees of Lebanon; as those trees spread forth their roots, grow up to strength, are most beautiful, odoriferous, and durable, cedars in Lebanon are these trees. So shall the true Israel, converted backsliders, be blessed of God. So flourishing and happy shall the church be under Christ.

שֶׁרֶשׁ

sheresh

sheh'-resh

From H8327; a root (literally or figuratively): - bottom, deep, heel, root.

לְבָנוֹן

l^ebânôn

leb-aw-nohn'

From H3825; (the) white mountain (from its snow); Lebanon, a mountain range in Israel: - Lebanon.

This speaks of total restoration.

Luke 12:27 "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Dew, it will cause the nation to blossom like a lily which was renowned for its beauty (cf. Son. 2:2). This is a complete reversal of the imagery used in Hos. 13:15. Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon.

No wonder then that our northern prophet painted the blessed future in the poetry of the mountain-its air, its dew, and its trees. Other seers were to behold, in the same latter days, the mountain of the Lord above the tops of the mountains; the ordered cite, her steadfast walls salvation, and her open gates praise; the wealth of the Gentiles flowing into her, profusion of flocks for sacrifice, profusion of pilgrims; the great Temple and its solemn services; and the glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, fir-tree and pine and box-tree together, to beautify the place of My Sanctuary. (Isa. 60:13) But, with his home in the north, and weary of sacrifice and ritual, weary of everything artificial, whether it were idols or puppet-kings, Hosea turns to the glory of Lebanon as it lies, untouched by human tool or art, fresh and full of peace from God’s own hand. Like that other seer of Galilee, Hosea in his vision of the future saw no temple therein. (Rev. 21:22) His sacraments are the open air, the mountain breeze, the dew, the vine, the lilies, the pines; and what God asks of men are not rites nor sacrifices, but life and health, fragrance and fruitfulness, beneath the shadow and the Dew of His Presence.

A promise of restoration

In the day of Israel’s repentance the Lord will turn from His anger and demonstrate His love by healing her (cf. Hos. 6:1). At that time the Lord’s blessing will return to Israel. Like… dew it will cause the nation to blossom like a lily which was renowned for its beauty (cf. Son. 2:2). This is a complete reversal of the imagery used in Hos. 13:15. Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon, whose deep roots, luxuriant growth, and aromatic smell (cf. Son. 4:11) were well known; and to an olive tree, widely recognized for its luxuriance (cf. Psm. 52:8; Jer. 11:16).