Daily Devotions
Hosea
"I will be like the dew to Israel"
Text: Hosea 14:5
WITH THE LOVE OF GOD GIVEN FREELY
The love of the LORD is a blessing not to be taken for granted. This love is to be greatly treasured. The LORD’s love for Israel would be evidenced in the way the nation would be blessed.
“I will be like the dew to Israel;
He shall grow like the lily,
And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.
His branches shall spread;
His beauty shall be like an olive tree,
And his fragrance like Lebanon.”
Hosea 14:5-6
1. “I will be like the dew to Israel”
a) The “dew” symbolizes
i) The dawn of a new day
ii) Freshness
iii) Gentleness
b) God would be:
i) Gentle and gracious to Israel.
ii) The nation would have a new beginning.
2. “He shall grow like the lily”
a) Sweet and innocent
b) A picture of serenity and purity
3. “And lengthen his roots like Lebanon”
a) Lebanon was home to the mighty trees like the cedar.
b) These majestic trees had deep and strong roots.
Israel would have deep roots too.
4. “His branches shall spread”
a) This would reflect good growth.
b) The nation would prosper with God’s love and blessing.
5. “His beauty shall be like an olive tree”
a) The olive tree was one of the national symbols of Israel.
b) It was beautiful because of its usefulness.
6. “And his fragrance like Lebanon”
Lebanon was famed for its magnificent trees. The fragrance of Lebanon would reflect well the future of Israel.