Redemption. Restoration. These are beautiful words for those who have sinned. Who have had to face the consequences of their sin.

Hosea instructs them,

“Say to him: “Forgive us all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips” (v. 2).

And the LORD says of them,

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them” (v. 4).

What beautiful words. He will heal their waywardness and once again love them freely.

He goes on to say there will be restoration. The land will be fruitful, they will be restored to their place upon the earth, they will flourish in the land and their fame would spread to the nations.

The Lord says to them,

“I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me” (v. 8).

Then there’s a final message:

“The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (v. 9).Sometimes people have to learn this the hard way. The nations have to learn this the hard way.

God’s ways of righteousness are the path of blessing.

The older I get the more I see this as true. May we all turn back to the LORD.