Though the people had been unfaithful, God was still faithful to them (Hosea 11). God was a good Father, teaching them to walk, yet they sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
However, God didn’t force them to love Him, but gently drew them to Himself with bands of love, taking the yoke from their necks and stopped and fed them. Though they worshipped Him with their lips, none of them exalted Him (V7).
God had many reasons to deal harshly with them, but determined that they would walk with Him (V9-10). God also had a charge against Judah (Hosea 12), but was set on bringing the two sides together (V9) and saving them (Hosea 13:14).
Israel had stumbled and fallen and put their trust in pagan nations, but God called them to return (Hosea 14) and promised to heal them and love them (V4). When they returned they would be revived and grow and reject their idols (V7-8).
Let all who have wisdom understand that the ways of the Lord are right and the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble (V9).
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