In the Last Days, Ephraim Will Repent and Return unto the Lord
Hosea 14:1–9
1 O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Dr. Ellis T. Rasmussen wrote:
“The final appeal by the prophet Hosea sought for Israel’s repentance and return to true worship. He told Israel how to confess and worship the Lord; true prayer would be more acceptable than perfunctory sacrifice (the translation of verse 2 is inept). Israel should recognize that the power of Assyria and their horses and the power of the gods made by human hands were nothing. In the hands of the Lord, the fatherless can hope for salvation (Hosea 14:1–3).
“In beautiful expressions the Lord promised through His prophet healing, love, and redemption. Then Hosea summed up the glorious future redemption of Israel under Ephraim’s leadership. He challenged readers of his words to understand them through wisdom and prudence and to walk according to them, though ‘transgressors shall fall therein’ (Hosea 14:4–9).
“Hosea has been called a prophet of love, for in spite of all of Israel’s sinning, he clearly conveyed to them the reluctance of the Lord to let them go, emphasizing His eagerness to redeem them.”
(A Latter-day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament [1993], 637.)
