Hosea 14:5 states, "I will be like the dew to Israel; he
shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon."
Hosea chapter 14 is an appeal
to Israel to stop their backsliding ways and return to the Lord their God. Hosea 14:4, "I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely." This
chapter is prophetical as it reveals God's restoration of the nation of Israel
at the end of 'the times of the Gentiles' (Luke 24:24).
However, I want to look at some practical applications that can be
gleaned from verse 5.
I will be like the dew..." Dew usually occurs overnight on still nights. It
comes down from the heavens above us and waters everything it touches. Man has
no say or part in it. It comes from God for the benefit of the earth and
mankind.
In this verse the nation of Israel is personified in the lily and the roots.
"...he shall grow like the lily... A lily is a tall slender plant with a tubular stem
and a trumpet shaped flower. It grows tall and straight. Lilies are renowned for
their elegant beauty. Christ spoke of them in Luke 12:27, "Consider the lilies, how they grow:
they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these."
"...lengthen his roots like
Lebanon." Lebanon is famous in
Scripture for its magnificent Cedar trees. So the reference to lengthening his
roots like Lebanon is a reference to the mighty cedars of Lebanon. Note however
that it is not the tree that is spoken of here; it is the mighty roots of the trees.
What is significant about the roots? What do they do?
Tree roots provide a strong foundation for the tree to grow. A mighty
tree needs a mighty root system to support it. Those self same roots absorb
moisture and nutrients from the soil to provide life giving sap to the tree and
its branches. As the tree grows the roots continue to grow thicker and spread
further afield. The root system is hidden underground. The mighty support system for
the tree and the life giving sap are not in plain view. Whether it is the lily
or the cedar both need a root system and both need life giving sap.
We have been considering three different items in Hosea 14:5 -
the dew - the lily - the roots of Lebanon's cedars.
The dew comes from the heavens; it is God given and provides the
necessary moisture to grow plant life.
The lily is a picture of glory and beauty.
The roots of the cedar tree are hidden; yet they provide firm support
to allow the mighty tree to grow. The life of the tree is hidden in the sap
emanating from the roots.
Can you see some interesting lessons in what has been before us?
As the lily grows it becomes a thing of glory and beauty to the eye of
the beholder. God wants us to reflect the glory and beauty of Christ in our
lives. Yet that glory and beauty is supported by the mighty, hidden root system
of faith and trust in our true and living God.
Neither the lily nor the cedar can survive without life giving
moisture. Our lives are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3) yet without
eternal life supplied to us via the Holy Spirit (the dew); we would not
survive. There would be no growth in our Christian lives.
Jon Peasey
[All
Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted.
Word enclosed in [ ] are inserted
for clarity. Words in bold type
emphasise a point]
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