The calves of our lips

Hosea 14:2

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.

Hosea provides for us here the way back to the Lord. This great chapter opens with “Return unto the Lord thy God!” And in the subsequent verses we are told how to return to the Lord. When a nation or a people has backslidden, what are they to do that they may be restored to a right relationship with the Lord? Yea, what is an individual to do that they may find their way back to the Lord? The prescription is here laid out for us. He says first of all, “Take with you words!” Just speak to the Lord about it! Repent of sin! Know that the Lord delights to hear His own people. He delights to answer them as they come and seek for Him with the whole heart. When they seek Him, the promise is that they shall find Him! Take with you words, and return to the Lord!

Now what are we to say to Him? Take away all iniquity! This is what every nation must say to the Lord, and every sinner must say in order to come back. They must request that He take away all their iniquity. For this He will do! He saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise! Therefore, when we come to Him with a contrite heart and spirit, we should expect that He will hear us and forgive us. He will take away our iniquity! And further, He will receive us graciously! Receive us graciously! How wonderful! Is He not a God of grace and mercy? He is a God of great kindness, and is plenteous in mercy. He will graciously receive us. Do not think that He will turn your prayer away. The only prayer that He will refuse will be the one that is never spoken because there is no sincere heart. The Lord does not only hear our words, but He also sees our heart.

Hosea says, “So will we render the calves of our lips.” With the above statements, we will speak to our Lord, and we will ask Him to take away all iniquity, and we will ask Him in faith to receive us graciously. And these shall constitute the calves of our lips. What does this mean? It is the offering and sacrifice to God, which is a sweet smelling savor. Just as the Israelites were once instructed to give calves and bullocks and goats to atone for sin, and as they were commanded to give meat offerings and drink offerings and burnt offerings to the Lord for a sweet savor, so the words of our mouth are equally sweet in His sight. That is what He longs for! He is not looking for something you can sacrifice as much as He is looking for the heart to be right. And if the heart is right, these words shall proceed forth. And these words, more than anything else, will be an aromatic and fragrant offering to Him, and will procure His everlasting favor and forgiveness. They are the calves of our lips! Speak to the Lord this morning, for we are told to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. And then, no doubt, He will heal our backsliding, and we shall be restored to a previous and better relationship with Him. Let us render the calves of our lips!

“Dear Lord, we come to you with honest and true hearts. With full assurance of faith we ask that you will forgive the iniquity of each of us individually and of our nation as a whole. May this be the same prayer of all of your holy saints—that you would take away all iniquity and receive us graciously. We know that you will. You will welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve. How we praise you and thank you. And may the sincere offerings of our lips be sweet and pleasing in your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”