Sacrifices of Our Lips

“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.”

Hosea 14:1-2

I have been reading through the book of Hosea in preparation to teach it.  It is full of hard sayings because it was spoken to people hard of heart.  Because they refused to repent of their sin, severe judgment was coming from God.  God is longsuffering and patient, but the sin of Israel demanded a response of the righteous Judge of all the earth.

Israel was completely lost without hope because they forsook the LORD and went after idols.  They looked for aid from other nations who could not heal or help them.  At the same time there was hope for bent and backsliding Israel—if they would return to God and repent.  The prophet urged the people to return to the LORD their God and ask for His forgiveness.  They had sinned, but there was forgiveness and acceptance by God’s grace.

The King James Version contains an allusion to repentance from idolatry in verse 2:  “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 of our lips.”  King Jeroboam caused Israel to sin when he set up calves in Bethel and Dan.  Hosea 13:2 describes the practice in Israel when offering sacrifices to “kiss the calves.”  Instead of using their lips to kiss idols, they were urged to offer sacrifices of their lips in confessing and acknowledging their sin and to ask for forgiveness in repentance.

Confession of sin and repentance before our holy God is always in season for sinners.  Praising God when we are in unrepentant sin is abominable before God, yet confession and repentance from a contrite heart is sweet music to His ears.  We know God is gracious, but let us ask Him to receive us graciously.  Let us never approach God with a sense of entitlement because of our service or sacrifice:  should God receive us it is all of grace.  Praise God He receives and rejoices in the sacrifices of our lips.