Hosea 14 concludes the prophecy with a powerful message of God's unwavering mercy and Israel's promised restoration. The chapter begins with God calling Israel to return, offering them words of confession and repentance, and assuring them of His healing love and forgiveness. It then vividly describes the blessings of their future redemption, portraying Israel as pure as a lily, stable as the cedars of Lebanon, and fruitful as an olive tree, with their scent like the wine of Lebanon. The sermon emphasizes that true salvation comes only from God, not from idols or worldly powers, and concludes by urging listeners to be wise and walk in God's righteous ways, learning from Israel's example.
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are just burdeners to cry with sincerity to even so come Lord Jesus and to be faithful to him come. Or shall we look to him in a word of prayer? Beloved and blessed Father, we thank you for the privilege of being together in the precious name of the Lord Jesus. We thank you we gather together because of him and around him. We take the promise and the blessed assurance, where two or three are gathered together. He did not say where, but wherever they are gathered together, there am I in the midst.
And we thank thee, blessed Father, he is in the midst. We think of him in that place of centrality. It was ever his blessed portion to be in the very center of thy purposes. And when we think of him upon the cross, crucified one thief on one hand and another on the other, Jesus was in the midst. We think of him on the resurrection day. When thus he appeared to the disciples in the upper room, walking through the closed door, Jesus himself stood in the midst. We thank thee, too, when we shall be in the glory of heaven above, the redeemed saints around the throne of God.
We shall all of us fall at his feet when we see him in the midst of the throne, in the midst of the living creatures, and in the midst of the glorified saints. We thank thee, blessed Father. He is the center of thine heart. We pray that we'll make him the same with our own heart. We thank thee for bringing us together to look into thy words. We pray thee we will observe, and be wise not only in understanding thy word, but in applying the lessons that we find within it. For there are deep lessons, abiding lessons, concerning thyself, oh God, in thy character and person, and concerning even ourselves in the weakness of humanity, but the manifestation of thy love and thy grace and thy power.
to thus mercifully deal with the human race is very evident. So as we come to the close of our chapter today in the book of Isaiah, teachers by the Holy Spirit, ribbon on to our hearts, consciences and lives, the truth thy word reveals. Then we pray for one another. We share together the burden we have within our own families. None of us can be, and none of us are exempt. Some problems and difficulties, sometimes heartaches and grief, relative to the conditions we have in our homes or in our families.
And we pray for those that are sick. We do pray for thy comfort. And if it be thy will, thy healing hand, not always the case, we know. But whether it's not thy will to heal, Give them thy grace to bear the burden, particularly thy children. And some may be going home to be in glory with Christ. And according to thy word, that's far better. We think of thy dear servant Paul saying, How we prefer to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. And so we pray, whatever the circumstance, and whatever is thy will, to heal, or to give sustaining grace in the trial, or to take thy loved ones home to thyself, do it for thy glory, and comfort those that need to be comforted in their sorrow and in their pain.
We pray most of all, Father, for those that need spiritual needs. Oh, how we confess, there are some that are lost in our relatives amongst our families, and we pray for their salvation. There are some that may be away from the Lord, We pray for their restoration. Now hear our prayer. Teachers, by thy spirit, as we look into thy word, we ask giving thanks in the Savior's precious name. Amen. The last chapter in the book and the prophecy of those there. It's been a great delight to go through this prophetic book. And God willing, in next week's study, we shall begin in the prophecy of Joel.
And so be sure, if you have not obtained... a series of the lesson studies on Joel, get your copies today, and you can place it in your book that you have on Ozea, for there'll be plenty of room and sufficient. So do that. Now, we go to the last chapter, a very short but a brief one, but perhaps, if I may say, gratefully perhaps the best chapter in the book. for we have noticed particularly again and again, God manifesting His matchless mercy, His love and His grace in promising that He would restore, reserve the people of Israel.
May I read the chapter through, if you please? Chapter fourteen, and surely you will recognize some of the words that come from the heart of God and the lips of God, and also the very confession of Israel. itself as a nation in the day of their recovery. O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 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 or the praise of our lips?
Asher or Asherah or Syria 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 God, for in thee the Fatherless findeth mercy. Now we hear the words of God. 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 grow 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 corn, and as grows 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've heard him and observed him. I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who so is wise, and may I point out as we read the closing verse? This is the application for the whole book of study. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prude him, and he shall know them, for the ways of the Lord are right.
and the judge shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein. May God bless the reading and the hearing of his word. Most of all, we humbly but earnestly pray, by the Holy Spirit, we'll be enlightened from these words of God. One of the greatest secrets of understanding and enjoying the word of God is to recognize it is the word of God. coming from him. And as we come to the closing of our study, in the prophecy of Ozea, as you have on your lesson sheet, page number fifteen, chapter fourteen, declares the return and Israel's glorious redemption.
May I say a word of encouragement as well as admonition. Let us ever remember, from the word of God, we have the assurance of the return and the recovery and the restoration of God's earthly people to him. So shall we look first of all in verses one through three of our chapter, where we have the divine exultation given by the prophet to his people regarding returning to Jehovah. If I may just point out as you read your lesson sheet the first paragraph, it is Jehovah himself who beseeches his people to return.
For God's hands are tied, as long as his people stay away from him. He waits for a sincere return. Can I read the words in verse one? Please note, and may we not forget, they come from the heart of God. We have noted, I repeat it, with no apology or the repetitions. We have noted the holiness of God in our book. We have also noted his justice. But we come to the exhibition, the manifestation of his great love. Now, please don't ask me why God loved Israel so.
Way back in the book of Exodus, God made the statement to Israel, I have loved thee because I have loved thee. some of us that have had the experience of raising children, and sometimes in their young infancy we say, how much, how, why do you love me? And I do recall oftentimes the answer was, cause. Well, came from a sincere heart, a good sayer. And beloved, and we can only say from John's epistle, first epistle chapter four, remember the word, God is love.
It's one of his attributes and qualities of his being. But note what he declares. He wants a sincere return, and note too, to the Lord your God, thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Beloved water confess, what you have virtually is the same principle of the sinner's prayer, who seeks and is willing to come to God through Christ. As you have in Luke eighteen, where the Lord Jesus told the parable of two men going into the temple to pray, and the public and praying, God be merciful to me, a sinner.
Acknowledging he has fallen into iniquity, and beloved is the same principle. When it comes to the restoration of a believer, it has to be repentance and confession. If we confess our sins, and may I say from first John one, nine, that word is given to a believer, to the children of the family of God, when our fellowship between our sons and God may unfortunately be broken. If we confess our sins, what we have done, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and the restoration and fellowship is thus reclaimed and restored.
But God confesses, thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Now will you note something? Lovely truth here. God puts his own words in their mouth. Take unto your words. He tells them what to say. Take unto your words and turn unto the Lord. Oh, beloved, let me give you an illustration. Could it be more clearer? when you think of the prodigal son in Luke fifteen when he came you know he had a speech all prepared he was going to say father I had sinned against heaven and in thy sight and I'm no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy highest servants that's all he wanted just to be a servant back in his father's own you know when he came back you recall He started, and he did say, Father, I have sinned against thee and against heaven.
And before he could go any further, the Father embraced me. The words of repentance and confession were all that were required. And here's God putting words in the mouth of his people, Israel, and telling him what to say, take away all inequity. And what a joy to realize the promise that he gives. Take away all iniquity. And what a privilege to realize. Let me look at the paragraph you have on your lesson sheet, if you please. He himself puts words in their lips, his own word, and a prayer of worship from their lips.
And as they say, receive us graciously. So will we render the calves of our lips. Let me read the paragraph through. I want you to note something in some other scriptures. God himself puts words into their lips, his own words. He puts a prayer of worship in their lips. For when they turn to him, praying for forgiveness, he will hear, and he assures that he will receive them. I wonder if you will go to me to Psalm sixty-nine, the sixty-nineth Psalm. And in the sixty-nine Psalm, I want you to note something very particular. And it's most unusual to realize how the Lord receives them.
And you've got the thought in the sixty-nine Psalm in verses thirty and thirty-one, what the words of the psalmist declare, and what will be the language of Israel, as well as the attitudes of God in that coming day. Psalm sixty-nine, verse thirty and thirty-one. Note the words in verse thirty-one. Let me go to verse twenty-nine and get the context. But I'm poor and sorrowful. Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord. Now please note. This also shall please the Lord better than enough. Or a bullet that had horns and hooks. Now look at your scripture in Isaiah, please. And note the words that God puts into their lips. First take away all inequity. Confessing and asking the forgiveness of sins. And receive us graciously. Will you please note they do not offer to sacrifice? They've been doing that all the time, even in their waywardness.
And God said, I can't repeat it, your hearts are away from me. And when they come back, they come back with a confession of repentance and seeking his forgiveness and healing spiritually, but to praise and reveal it. Better than an ox. Better than the bullet. For after all. You remember one time in the history of Saul the king? And he offered a sacrifice. But it was done in disobedience to God's will.
And Samuel told him to obey his better than sacrifice. And the confession of Israel will certainly reveal. They realize they can't bring the sacrifices that they once brought, because they've been unfaithful to their God, and all of it was hypocritical. But they come with a confession of actual, proper, true praise with their lips. Go to Hebrews chapter thirteen, will you please, for another scripture? Hebrew chapter thirteen.
What a joy to realize the meaning of this. For Paul, rather, writing to the Hebrews, then think of the context of this epistle written to the Hebrews. And if I may read, may I go, may I begin reading here from verse ten. Here's the beloved apostle Paul even declaring through the context of this epistle, God is finished with Judaism. God is finished with the altars and the sacrifices of beasts. Now let me read as we go to verse ten. He says, We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat, which serve the tabernacle, for the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate, Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Now note the fifteen verse. By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks in his name. All may I emphasize. The reality of that restoration to come for Israel.
The fruit of their lips. We will render him the calves, the praise of our lips. And beloved, that's the privilege and the responsibility of even a believer today. The sacrifices of all the God. And you know, one of the reasons that Paul by the Holy Spirit wrote this great epistle to the Hebrews was to leave them away from the sacrifices that they had For centuries followed. For why? The one sacrifice of the ages. Not all the blood of these on Jewish altars, slaves, could give the guilty conscience, be, nor take away one's name. But Christ the heavenly land took all our sins away.
A sacrifice of nobler name, of richer blood than they. And may I point out, I won't turn to the scripture, but you may remember in Zechariah chapter twelve, Jesus by the Spirit right through the prophet. They shall look upon him whom they have pierced. They'll see the sacrifice. They'll appropriate it. They'll quote the very words of Isaiah fifty three. And may I say this? Primarily Isaiah fifty three isn't a Christian chapter as much as it is an Israel chapter for the people of Israel. Which they will confess.
Who, it believes, I'll report. To whom was the honor the Lord revealed? And then they confessed how they despised and esteemed their Messiah, not despising him and put him to grief, nailed him to the cross. And yet he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And you read Isaiah fifty-three. It'll be the confession of Israel. When they see the one whom they are, and it will be their actual return unto the Lord, that godly remnant of that coming day. So now let's go to verse two, if you please. As you look at verse three, rather, in our chapter, as you look at verse three, there's another confession.
They confess there's no salvation in any other. Assyrian, horses. And I want you to know the story. Will you go back with me, please, to the book of Deuteronomy? strange to say in the book of Deuteronomy chapter seventeen and verse sixteen I want you to read a word there that God has to say about Egypt for Egypt was the land of horses and then please note very carefully that in this seventeen chapter and the sixteenth verse what God by the Holy Spirit through his servant Moses wrote may I go further let me read from there let me read from verse fourteen and read through verse sixteen.
God giving instructions when they came into the land of Canaan. When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose. One from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee. Thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But, now here's the warning to the king. He shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses.
For as much as the Lord has sent unto you, he shall henceforth return no more, meaning to Egypt, that way. And you know, it's a strange thing. If you ever read The Life of Solomon, and I'm sure you have, did you ever notice that Solomon multiplied horses, brought them to meet it? I remember over in Israel, a little place they call it Megiddo. They still have remnants of the stables that Solomon built. And he built them all over the country. Now, when you look at Israel, when you look at our prophecy of Isaiah, when you read them confessing, Assyria will not save us. Horses will not say.
They were usually, and we've noted it, they were between two great countries seeking the help of one or the other. Assyria? Egypt. And God warned them. They'll fail you. And he warned them. Don't go down into Egypt. And Assyria, they'll take you captive. I'll deliver you into their hands. And then when they come to their restoration... Assyrian cannot save us. Horses that we may go down to Egypt and try to get their help. They can't save us.
See, a wonderful moment when the nation of Israel and the godly remnant of Israel realize there's not a nation on the earth can save us. Only God. That's where a sinner has to come. No one can thank me. But the Lord Jesus, neither is there salvation in any other. For there's none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. But look at the verse, please. In Hosea again, go back. Not only Assyria shall not save us. Not only Egypt. Please note this.
Neither will we say any more to the work or to the idols of our hands. Ye are our God, for in thee the fatherless find of mercy. Ah, they confess there's not even salvation in their idols anymore. And we are noted particularly the great sin of Israel in those days of Ozea was idolatry and their pagan worship and licentious conditions that prevailed. But they'll acknowledge only him in whom the fatherless can find mercy. What a joy to realize it will be a complete, perfect concession in contrition and repentance.
Now let's look at verses four as we go on through verse nine. Here we have their blessed redemption, glorious. And please know our blessed it is to see God saying, I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as a do unto Israel. Let's pause. You know it on your lesson sheet. We've got the emphasis given. Three times Jehovah says, I will, I will, I will. So remember in the life of the Lord Jesus, there came a leper to the Lord Jesus and said, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me whole.
The Lord was willing. When the true conditions of repentance and acknowledgement of the complete need, and the dependence upon the one only who can need it, is made known, He's willing. I will heal their backsliding. How far have they backslid? Beloved, please let me think with you. The centuries, the centuries of backsliding, the nation of Israel, going all the way back to the days of Isaiah and even to preceding that, when after their institution as a nation, and particularly in the days of the king, how thus spiritual deterioration came in, and they...
departed from the ways of God. Thanks, Lainey. Thanks, Lainey. We used to sing a quartet, I recall in my earlier days, four of us. I can never drift beyond the circle of his love. Oh, beloved, what a joy to realize. You and I, none, can ever drift any further than the circle of his love. You can't go any further than that. You can't get out of it. And here's the Lord saying, I will heal their backsliding. And what a joy he does that today when individual Christians who have been backsliding come back to him.
I will heal. He's the only one that can. And he does. And what a privilege. And then he goes on. And that's his divine forgiveness. But note the second thing he said. I will love them freely. I will love them freely. freely, the measure of it. Will you go with me to Romans chapter three, please? I want you to notice something for the believer and for the unsaved in the third chapter of the book of Romans. Our pressures to realize the language that God uses, even in relation to the salvation of a sinner. Chapter three in the book of Romans, and I'd like to, may I read verse twenty-three and twenty-four together?
Verse twenty-three, you know it well. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And here's the universal condemnation of the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike. They have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But now, as the apostle has been speaking about coming to God by faith in Jesus Christ, know what he says in verse twenty-four. Being justified by freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. May I give you this thought? A precious thought. I think of the words of another.
I'll listen to the comment. When he wrote saying, the grace of God is even greater than his love. And think of these words. being justified freely by his grace. Why? Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. It's by his grace. And his grace alone that you and I can even enjoy his love. And he says we are justified freely by what it means is this. The death of the Lord Jesus has so manifested the love of God for the whole world that the floodgates of His grace, unmerited favor upon our part, can be shown freely.
How great is it? Grace, the old hymn puts it, grace that is greater than all our sins. But if it wasn't for God's grace, we would never know His love. and the joy of seeing. He says, I love them truly. Nice to be loved that way, isn't it? Right, let me please say this. How we need to enjoy his love. More and more. And what a joy to have the privilege of being in that position and relationship to God. Where we can enjoy his love.
The Lord Jesus said, Continue ye in my love. And what joy to know. He loves us freely. Let me say again. I can't tell you why. Except because. May I quote the words of chapter thirteen of John verse one. Having loved his own which were in the world. He loved them to the end. It doesn't mean there's an end to his love, but literally it means he loved them through everything. And what a joy it proves for Israel. God has loved them through everything.
And when they're restored, he's going to pour that love upon them for their enjoyment. Let me say this. What's the greatest blessing that you and I may have and enjoy in heaven? I think it's going to be the enjoyment of his love, bathing in the ocean of the love of Christ and the love of God forever. You won't drown, but all the joy of knowing, well, let me quote the words of Jeremiah when he wrote, saying to Israel, God saying, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Know what joy to realize, love with everlasting love, led by grace this love to know spirit greeting from above thou has taught me it is so all that full and perfect peace all that comfort all divine in a love which cannot see i'm him and he is mine well i guess the children would got the best in in the whole hymn book haven't they when they sing jesus loves me this i know and god helps you and me to enjoy the truth of it too But
what a day that will be for Israel. And then not only his divine love, he did have his divine blessing. As you may notice in the verse and the words that follow, mine anger is turned away from him. And what a day of joy that will be. And then go on and read the words in the next verse. I will be as the dew unto Israel. Now if you may recall, I think twice previous to this, you have dew mentioned. and in relation to Israel. But those two previous mentions of do are not like this. When God said, I will be as the do to Israel, but the references preceding it in other chapters referred to the fact that when God looks for full blessing and fruit from Israel, it was like the do that vanished immediately when the sun came up.
And it did not produce and the fruitfulness for him. For here is God saying, I will be, I will be as a do unto Israel. If you've got your Bible, go to Psalm one hundred and thirty-three. Psalm one hundred and thirty-three. I don't know whether you enjoy the Psalms as I do. And particularly in Psalm one hundred and thirty-three, we have one of the Psalms that are called the Psalms of Ascent. are Psalms of Degrees. And in chapter one hundred and thirty-three, I may just incidentally say, if you'll begin reading at the beginning of these Psalms of Degrees, you will find the beginning in chapter one hundred and twenty.
And you'll find the title over all the Psalms from chapter one hundred and twenty through one hundred and thirty-four, the Song of Degrees. And it really means the Song of Ascent. Now let me give you the picture. These Psalms were sung. They were sung in the days of Israel. They were customarily sung by the Levites and the priests in the temple. Oftentimes, as they went, in fact, when they went their way to Jerusalem, to the holy annual feast that they kept, the Israelites would be singing these songs as they ascended toward the city of God, Jerusalem.
And yet there's a dispensational, blessed dispensational meaning to these Psalms. And when you read them, you find the truth getting higher and higher. And what you also find, the spiritual condition of Israel is better. Now let me read the Psalm one hundred and thirty-three. May I say very frankly, this hundred and thirty-third Psalm is the Messianic Psalm describing the blessing of Israel in that coming millennial day. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Now, please let me say this has other applications I know, but primarily it refers to God's earthly people dwelling together.
In what? Unity. You don't have that today. They're not in unity in Israel. The country's torn apart. Even the government itself. They are disunited in practice and what they desire to do. When the Lord comes, they're united. Now know verse two, which was on my mind. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment. And if you recall, and you go back to the book of Leviticus, and you'll find in chapter eight, You find where Aaron was anointed as a high priest in Israel.
And Moses took the anointing oil, of which you may read in chapter twenty-five of Exodus, or in chapter twenty-five you can read that precious anointing oil. The fragrance of it, the liquefiable fragrance of that oil was poured upon Aaron's head. And from the top of his head down to the skirt of his garment, he was saturated with that perfume and oil. He was the sweetest smelling man that you could ever. He smelled sweetest smelling man. And he was the sweetest smelling man. The fragrance of it. But beloved Lord, it's a picture. It's the type of the fragrance of that coming day when Israel will be restored.
The Jew doesn't smell too good today in the world. You know it. When God restores, punishes the wicked, separates the godly from the ungodly, and puts his people in the land, the flesh, the fellowship is going to be fresh. And to God, it's going to be the fragrance of that. Let me point this out. That anointing oil in all of its constituents and ingredients is the type of Christ. Beautiful. Won't it be wonderful when every Jew will glorify Christ? And Jehovah his God.
But look at the last verse in that song. It's where the Jew comes in. As the Jew of Harman. And as the Jew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing. Even life forevermore. And beloved. Here's the blessing of the land. The blessing of the people. God's Jew coming down. From that mount of Hermon, as it were, the highest mountain in the northern part of Israel. And what a symbol of divine blessing. Oh, beloved, may I say, going back to our chapter, let's go a little further and see that divine blessing as God goes out to manifest it.
For the past will be wiped out, and in the presence of his love, the future will be nothing but glory. But now notice we go on in verse five. And I want to finish in verse five. And we have the fruitful result in five and six. After being the dew unto Israel, no. He shall grow as the lily. My. There's one thing about a lily. I think if there's one characteristic that you find in a lily is purity. Purity. What a change when God redeems his earthly people.
He says, they all look like a lily. You read the song of Solomon. The bride says that she has a lily among thorns. So is my love amongst the daughters. But here's Israel. God says, like a lily. Someone told me, or I read someplace, that a bomb of a lily will multiply faster than any other bomb. But the joy of realizing the spiritual blessing that will be there as they manifest as a lily the divine blessings have gone upon them. And then as you go further, note the next word. He said, Go as a lily and cast forth his roots at Lebanon.
Not only in purity and beauty, but when you think of the roots of Lebanon, you've got stability and endurance. The Cedars of Lebanon, a dear brother, who's with the Lord now, who came from Lebanon with telling me, in fact, he showed me a picture, of one of the Cedars of Lebanon. And he with his companions that were theirs encircled the tree, the base of the tree. And how many of them do you think it took to go around that tree as they held hands? Twenty of them. I'd hate to have to chop that tree down when you're twenty up.
When you go to California and you see the redwood tree, very similar, oh, it speaks of durability as well as stability and endurance, there'll be a gladdener. What an example of that strength that will be there's in stability in that coming day. And then you go further, and you look in verse six, his branches shall spread not only beauty and fruitfulness the lily but his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the olive tree oh that olive tree with a fruitfulness of his oil that was so precious and so valuable and one can realize God uses this metaphor as described, becoming blessing of his people in that day.
They will be as fruitful as a the olive tree. They will also be as strong as Lebanon. And then the broken branches will be replaced. Let me point out the words as you got it here. And if now, well, verse six, his branches shall spread. His beauty shall be as the olive tree. Will you go to Romans chapter eleven with me, please? I want you to notice something. In chapter eleven of the book of Romans, God tells us by the prophet that he broke off the branches of Israel. Let me begin reading, if I may, at verse thirteen. Paul's saying, For I speak to you, Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them for now, no. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead? For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy. And if the root be holy, so are the branches. Now, no verse ever did. And if some of the branches be broken up. Now, what Paul is saying in this chapter is telling the Gentiles, God broke Israel off. the branches of their tree of government. He brought them up.
And he turned the government of the world as it were to the Gentiles for blessings. And the apostle warned the Gentiles, beware. If you're not faithful to the truth of God, he'll break your branches off. But as you go down the chapter, what a joy to realize. that though God broke the branches off, the days coming when He will restore Israel. Please go back to verse twenty-four, down to verse twenty-four. If you Gentiles were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were graft contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these which be the natural branches be grafted into their own olive trees?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceit, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the wholeness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Go back to your prophecy in of Hosea. Read it to your convenience, sir, in the eleventh chapter of Romans. Recognize Paul is telling the Gentile world, God broke Israel up. There are branches of government. And he grasped into the government of the olive tree so symbolic of human government on the earth.
He grasped in the Gentiles. But he said, Beware, the day is coming when even the Gentile branches will be broken up. And the branches of Israel... will be grasped back in, and the nation of Israel nationally doesn't mean that every Jew will be saved, but as a nation, tried by tried, in representation they will be saved. Now back in Ozea, one can recognize its branch of shrill, its beauty should be in theology, and its smell as Lebanon, the forest of Lebanon. Oh, beloved, when you think of the forest of Lebanon, of any forest, the wildflowers, the beauty, and all the virgin, and the fragrance that you can find from many different sources in the forest of the world.
Israel is going to be like a mighty forest, producing the fragrance of a Lebanon. My. The Jew doesn't smell so nice today, does he? But, oh, please let me say, when Well, let me tell you, finally, neither does the sinner smell very nice. Until he finds Christ. Until he finds Christ. Now, you know, some of them have some strange smells. I remember we had a dear brother years ago and as a young fella, he was in a fish market all day long. And I want to tell you, we knew every time Brother Holt came in the meeting. He can't work in a fish market all day long without getting the smell of fish on you.
And he carried it with him. And then on the other hand, I remember hearing a complaint of a certain brother in France because of the fact he smelled like perfume all the day. And some of the folks in the church where he gathered didn't resist. But he couldn't help it. He worked in a perfume factory all day. Depends where you are in this. Depends where you are. But all the joy of realizing... When God comes to redeem and restore his people, Israel, the fragrance of Lebanon will be there. And how it can be, and may I say this, in passing, and in application, what does God want to smell from you and me?
More of Christ. More of Christ. More of Christ. And just like it will be for Israel, in that day, their publisher will be precious, like the liquefiable ointment, that precious oil. They came on Aaron's head, and the fragrance of it will radiate the fragrance of God in Christ in that day. God grant that you and I can do some even now. But note further as we go on, and we find in verse seven, the blessings of the millennial kingdom. They that dwell under his shadow shall return. They shall revive as the corn. They shall grow as the vine.
The scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Note your paragraph you have on your lesson sheet. Under letter C, regarding verse seven, the blessings of their millennial kingdom, the fruitful production of the land of the people is symbolized in the words of this verse and the blessed fragrance of Israel as the wine of Lebanon. For Lebanon with its aromatic plants and fragrant flowers can alone describe the fragrance of those who will be the Lord's people in that day. I don't know how true it is. If you note the words at the end of verse seven, they shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
But I understand, and it's probably true, that the grapes of Lebanon are the biggest problems. They're the biggest problems. And one can recognize for their production. as well as undoubtedly perhaps their fragrance, you can recognize the productivity of the forest and of the land of Lebanon, and what it will be in Israel in that day as a nation, their fruitfulness. And may I also point out, another symbol for the word wine in the Scripture is joy. Let me remind you of this. Remember the first miracle that the Lord Jesus did in John's Gospel, chapter two?
the first sign of his manifestation as to who he was, was changing water into wine at the marriage feast in Kenya. And you know what it was the symbol of? They ran out of wine. It was the symbol that Israel had run out of joy. And it was a wedding feast, and it was a disgrace to the host and the governor of the feast that they had run out of wine. But the Lord Jesus came to the rescue. And even though I remember a good friend of mine who was a very strong temperance man, though he was a Christian, he fought for no liquor and no beer and all like that, and I couldn't blame him for disliking them.
But I remember he was out preaching in the open air one time, and he must have mentioned it something, but somebody in the audience of the crowd said, Why did Jesus turn water into wine? And you know what he told them back? He said, if you can get some wine that he made, I advise you to drink it. Well, it's a symbol of joy more than anything. Wine that makes us glad the hearted man wrote the psalmist. I know the symbol of the return of their joy. And what a joy it will be. You know, I'm glad I'm saved. And I'm glad there's one thing in heaven I'm going to enjoy.
Not only love, I'm going to enjoy joy. It's going to be a home of joy. Happy. Happy of the dead. Hmm. It'd be good to go there now, wouldn't it? Happy of the dead who die in the Lord. And I think of our dear sister, Mrs. Bradley, who used to live just up the road. And all the way to the hospital as he went with a terrific heart attack and went to deal with the Lord. She was quoting that verse. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. And she went home on that verse. Good verse to go home on. She knew who she was going to. She knew what she was going to.
And she knew where she was going to be. And she knew what is going to be like. And what a joy to know what heaven will do. Well, may I just say humbly, I don't. I don't despise Israel. I don't resent them. Neither do I envy them for having such joy on the earth. I'm going to have better joy in heaven. So beloved, what a note it is to realize heaven and not the joy of the Lord. Oh, the blessing that it will be. But let's take the Narn and finish. Now you note in verse eight. Only the note verse eight. Unusual. Israel's heart is now attached to Jehovah.
Israel shall, Ephraim shall say, what have I to do anymore with idols? Forever. Idolatry given up. Now, I'm just going to quote the next words. In fact, the whole verse, as one dear scholar that I value very much in his commentary, gave this image, and I want to give you the thought that he passes on. And I hope you've noticed it. Have you noticed that sometimes in our verses in Ozea, we don't find it much in other prophets? But in Ozea, you find a sentence that they say, the people of God say, and then you write in the next sentence, you find a verse that only God could say. And this particular commentator and Bible teacher suggest in verse saying, so read it in this manner.
Let me do it. First of all, It is Israel saying, What have I to do any more with idols? I've given them up. And then God answers. Jehovah answers. I've heard him say it. And I've observed it. What a joy it will be to go. And then we find Israel saying, I'm like a green fir tree. God, Jehovah has made me prosperous again. And then God says, And please note the last words, isn't this true? From me... From me is thy fruit found. Now please, not Israel bolting on her fruit. From me, said God, is thy fruit.
Then the Lord Jesus said, Without me you can do what? Nothing. In that chapter of fruitfulness. And God is saying to Israel, as she thus rejoices in the fruitfulness and the prosperity that's symbolized by the green fir tree, God says, You got it all from me. You got it all from me. Where'd you get yours from? Where'd I get mine from? Where do you get the fruit? You get it from him. Without me you can do nothing. And what a joint will be in that day. Now if we close particularly, at the close of the, well let me, let me, let me read the note on your paper that we have on the verse eight, or we finish with verse nine.
Israel's heart is attached to Jehovah, absolutely delivered from all idols, whether they say, and I put it in this fashion, I've heard it, I've looked upon him, and the idols are gone, stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed, words of an old hymn, finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest, for they found the vision of the Lord. Now the last verse, it's the epilogue of the whole prophecy, and God says, Who is wise? He shall understand these things. Prudent. He shall know them. For the ways of the Lord are right. The just shall walk in them. But the transgressors shall fall therein.
Can I read the comment on the page? The final verse, the epilogue to the whole prophecy. The person who is wise and prudent before the Lord will understand these things. Meaning the whole book. And from the contents of the teaching that God revealed, in view of his earthly people, their failure, his grace, his love, we will delight to walk in God's way. But the one who is the transgressor will bring about his own ruin, for the final objective should teach us that the path of obedience is the path of unspeakable blessing. Oh, how we can say, from the object lesson of Israel, And you have the word of the Lord.
G. of the Paul the Apostle in First Corinthians. Ten. Coming. That those things that happen to Israel. That happen for our example. Upon whom the end of the ages have come. So may we learn some lessons. Spiritual lessons. That are found in this book. Shall we pray? Beloved and blessed Father. We have to say in the words of thy servant David. through the trials and the difficulties and the heartaches and the sorrows and the battles and the violence and the strife which he passed until thou didst crown him the king of Israel.
He had to say all those devious experiences brought him to the throne and he confessed as for God his way is perfect. And so as we follow the study of this wonderful prophecy, with all its ups and downs. What a gratitude we have in our hearts to realize. You'll bring thine earthly people in a godly remnant of a coming day into their millennial blessing under the Messiah. We thank thee for it, but then we pray again. May we be wise, may we be prudent, may we observe what we have followed, and grant that we will walk in thy way.
in obedience to thy word. This we ask, giving thanks in our Savior's precious name. Amen. So I thank you for coming and read the prophecy of Joel for next week. You've only got three chapters to read through, and you can memorize it and then come.