Matthew Henry Commentary Hosea 14:4-8

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found." — Hosea 14:4-8 (ASV)

Israel seeks God's face, and they shall not seek it in vain. His anger is turned from them. Whom God loves, He loves freely—not because they deserve it, but of His own good pleasure. God will be to them all that they need. The graces of the Spirit are the hidden manna, hidden in the dew; the grace thus freely bestowed on them shall not be in vain.

They shall grow upward and be more flourishing; shall grow as the lily. The lily, when it has come to its height, is a lovely flower (Matthew 6:28–29). They shall grow downward and be more firm. With the flower of the lily shall be the strong root of the cedar of Lebanon. Spiritual growth consists mostly in the growth of the root, which is out of sight.

They shall also spread as the vine, whose branches extend very widely. When believers abound in good works, then their branches spread. They shall be acceptable both to God and man. Holiness is the beauty of a soul. The church is compared to the vine and the olive, which bring forth useful fruits.

God's promises pertain only to those who attend on His ordinances; not to those who flee to this shadow only for shelter in a hot gleam, but to all who dwell under it. When a man is brought to God, all who dwell under His shadow fare the better. The sanctifying fruits shall appear in his life. Thus believers grow up into the experience and fruitfulness of the gospel.

Ephraim shall say (God will put it into his heart to say it), What have I to do any more with idols! God's promises to us are more our security and our strength for mortifying sin than our promises to God. See the power of Divine grace. God will work such a change in him that he shall loathe the idols as much as he ever loved them.

See the benefit of sanctified afflictions. Ephraim smarted for his idolatry, and this is the fruit, even the taking away his sin (Isaiah 27:9). See the nature of repentance: it is a firm and fixed resolution to have no more to do with sin. The Lord meets penitents with mercy, as the father of the prodigal met his returning son. God will be to all true converts both a delight and a defense; they shall sit under His shadow with delight.

And He is as the root of a tree. From me is thy fruit found: from Him we receive grace and strength to enable us to do our duty.