14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sin has been your downfall!

For 13 chapters, Hosea has been giving negative prophecies to Israel. In chapter 14, he will prophesy about the return of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.

The sins of Israel caused her to fall. Therefore, she needs to turn back to Jehovah.

14:2 Return to the Lord and repent! Say to him: “Completely forgive our iniquity; accept our penitential prayer, that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.

Israel needs to return back to her husband and change her ways. Israel, the wife, will respond with a future prayer of repentance. She will ask God to forgive her spiritual adultery. She will offer God internal sacrifices with her lips.

14:3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not ride warhorses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made. For only you will show compassion to Orphan Israel!”

Assyria cannot save Israel. Armies cannot save Israel. Demonic idols cannot save Israel. Only Jehovah can save Israel.

14:4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger will turn away from them.

Jehovah will heal Israel of her backslidden condition. God will turn His anger away from Israel.

14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily, he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon.

During the Millennial Kingdom, Jehovah will be like the dew to Israel. He will make Israel fruitful again by restoring her material blessings.

14:6 His young shoots will grow; his splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

Israel will become fruitful like the olive tree. The olive tree was fruitful all year long. Israel will smell fresh like the cedar trees of Lebanon.

14:7 People will reside again in his shade; they will plant and harvest grain in abundance. They will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.

During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will once again produce double fruit. However, this double fruit will be good fruit.

14:8 O Ephraim, I do not want to have anything to do with idols anymore! I will answer him and care for him. I am like a luxuriant cypress tree; your fruitfulness comes from me!

During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will no longer worship demonic idols.

14:9 Who is wise? Let him discern these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them! For the ways of the Lord are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.

During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will no longer lack knowledge of God. They will obtain permanent knowledge of God. They will never perish for lack of knowledge again.