Hosea 14:1-3

He is the Lord, our God, and He will not tolerate anything that we place above Him in importance in our life.

We must be very careful not to allow the pleasures of this world to become our gods. Money, power and control are elevated and sought out by society. Their pursuit stifles the heart of God in man silencing His still, small voice given to us to guide us.

Worship God  in prayer and in communion with others.

The final section of Hosea’s prophecy begins with a call to repentance that includes a model prayer. The people of Israel were to pray for God’s gracious forgiveness and renew their allegiance to Him by renouncing foreign alliances, their own military strength, and artificial gods.

Hosea 14:1-3

14 O Israel, return to the Lord your God,

For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;

² Take words with you,

And return to the Lord.

Say to Him,

“Take away all iniquity;

Receive us graciously,

For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.

³ Assyria shall not save us,

We will not ride on horses,

Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’

For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”

¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 

Joel 2:13

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. 

Psalm 51:17

¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer  the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 

Hebrews 13:15

¹³ You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men. 

Hosea 10:13

31 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord! 

Isaiah 31:1