At the outset of this chapter, Hosea says:

O Israel, return to the Lord your God,

For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;

Take words with you, And return to the Lord. (Hosea 14:1)

Plainly, the Lord exhorts us to return to Him when our wrongdoing has made us turn away.

"Take words with you," is an interesting phrase. It means that we should listen to our conscience - the voice within us that urges us to repent.

The next line,“Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously” shows very clearly what the Lord will do if the people ask Him.

Next, we have this: "For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips". We need to pay attention to detail, not only what we do but also how we speak.

“We will not ride on horses”, in verse (3), shows us to stop thinking we can escape by running away, using intelligent rationales to justify wrong acts.

“Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods,’” shows us to stop thinking that the things we do in the world and from ourselves are the only path to follow. Instead believe the truth that God is the only source of salvation.

“For in You the fatherless finds mercy” is saying that the Lord leaves no one without protection, and abandons no one.

“I will heal their backsliding,” in verse (4) means that God has the ability to keep people from returning to their old ways. “I will love them freely,” shows that He gives His love freely and without reservation.

“For My anger has turned away,” means the sinners’ perception of the Lord will clear and people will see He was never angry, only loving.

“I will be like the dew to Israel,” in verse (5) signifies that His instruction will be gentle like dew on the grass in the morning.

“Grow like the lily,” means the errant one will change, and will grow in purity like the lily;

“Lengthen his roots. . .” like roots growing in the ground the Lord work is in the dark and unseen.

“Branches shall spread” in verse (6) means good and truth will spread into the open and be seen, like the branches on a tree.

“Beauty shall be like an olive tree,” the beauty of the olive tree is in its bearing fruit.

“Fragrance like Lebanon,” like an aroma rising up, the ones who reform will be grateful;

“Those who dwell under his shadow shall return” in verse (7) means those in the dark of false thinking about salvation will be brought into full sunlight.

“They shall be revived like grain and grow like the vine,” explains that where good can flourish like grain in the sunlit field or be abundant like grapes on the vine.

“Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon“ means that this new life emanates a good scent, like the aroma of a good wine. In spiritual terms it means the person can now think through or understand why it is so important to live with good and truth joined together (Apocalypse Explained 730:15).

“What have I to do anymore with idols?” in verse (8) explains that as people are renewed they will no longer depend on their own idols of false thinking and reasoning.

“I have heard and observed Him” because they have heard the Lord speaking in His Word.

“I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in me” means that like trees that bear fruit, they will have perceptions that lead them to the life the Lord wants for them.

“Who is wise? Let him understand these things,” in verse 9 means those who accept the Lord will have wisdom to see the good paths they are to follow.

“Who is prudent? Let him know them,” explains that those being renewed will use the new thinking the Lord is giving them.

“For the ways of the Lord are right,” means they will understand that only the Lord knows the way to heaven.

“The righteous walk in them,” explains that those who are prudent will follow the Lord’s leading.

“But transgressors stumble in them,” signifies that wrongdoers will find the way to heaven difficult, and will stumble and fall away.

10261. “又取橄榄油” 表主的属天神性良善. 这从 “油” 和 “橄榄” 的含义清楚可知: “油” 是指良善, 无论属天的还是属灵的 (参看886, 4582, 9780节); “橄榄” 是指属天之爱, 如下文所述, 因此, “橄榄油” 表示属天之爱的良善, 或也可说, 属天良善. 它被称为主的神性属天良善, 是因为在天堂, 一切本质为良善的良善都来自主的神性.

不过, 要知道, 就本身而言, 主的神性良善是一个不可分割的整体; 因为它是无限的, 包含无限的事物或无限的特性在里面. 无限之物都是一个不可分割的整体, 因为它所包含的无限事物或无限特性构成一体. 但该良善被区分为属天的和属灵的, 是由于天上的天使和地上的世人接受它的不同方式. 当被属于主的属天国度的天使和世人接受时, 它被称为属天的神性良善; 而当被属于主的属灵国度的天使和世人接受时, 它被称为属灵的神性良善. 因为天上的所有天使和地上的世人以各种或不同的方式接受作为一个整体的主的良善, 或说主的独一良善. 打个比方说, 这就像世上太阳的热和光. 尽管就本身而言, 它们是一个不可分割的整体, 然而仍照着一年四季和一天四个时间段而各不相同, 在地球上的每个地区也不同. 热和光的这种变化不是由太阳引起的, 而是由地球绕太阳公转并绕其轴自转时的变化引起的; 因此, 接受才是决定性的因素. 此外, 同样的光在每个物体上照着它被接受的方式而各不相同, 由此产生不同的颜色. 由此可见为何主的神性良善作为一个不可分割的整体, 因是无限的而被称为属天和属灵的.

“油” 表示良善, 无论属天的还是属灵的, 这一点从前面引用的经文明显看出来. 但 “橄榄” 表示属天之爱, “油” 表示对这爱的感知和情感, 这一点从圣言中提到 “油” 和 “橄榄” 的经文明显看出来, 如下列经文, 撒迦利亚书:

先知看见了一个纯金的灯台, 灯台上有七盏灯, 旁边有两棵橄榄树, 一棵在碗的右边, 一棵在碗的左边. 他对天使说, 这两棵橄榄树是什么意思? 这两颗橄榄果在两个金管口是什么意思? 他说, 这些是两个橄榄之子, 站在全地之主旁边. (撒迦利亚书 4:2, 3, 11, 12, 14)

这些预言是什么意思, 没有人能知道, 除非他通过内义知道 “一个灯台” 表示什么, “一棵橄榄树” 又表示什么. “一个灯台” 表示属灵天堂, 灯台上的 “灯” 表示那里的神圣真理 (参看9548, 9551, 9555, 9558, 9561, 9684节). 从这些含义清楚可知, “一棵橄榄树” 表示由对良善的感知和情感所生的属天国度, “橄榄果” 表示那里的神圣良善, 它们的真理由 “橄榄之子” 来表示. “两” 表示这个国度的内在和外在部分, 以及结合.

在下列经文中, “油” 和 “灯台” 具有相同的含义, 启示录:

我要使我那两个见证人, 穿着麻布, 说预言一千二百六十天. 这二人就是那两棵橄榄树, 两个灯台, 立在大地之神面前的. (启示录 11:3, 4)

以赛亚书:

我要在旷野种上香柏树, 皂荚树, 番石榴树和橄榄木 (或油木). (以赛亚书 41:19)

经上之所以提到 “香柏树” 和 “橄榄木 (或油木)”, 是因为 “香柏树” 表示属灵良善, “橄榄木 (或油木)” 表示属天良善. 属灵良善是对邻之仁, 属天良善是对主之爱; “在旷野种这些树” 表示种在教会之外的地上, 因而种在外邦人或外邦民族当中.

何西阿书:

他的枝条必伸展出来, 他的荣美如橄榄树, 他的气味如黎巴嫩. (何西阿书 14:6)

“橄榄树” 在此也表示属天良善, “黎巴嫩” 表示属灵良善, 因此 “黎巴嫩” 和 “香柏树” 在意思上是一样的, 因为黎巴嫩是一片由香柏树组成的森林.

以赛亚书:

它必这样在地中间, 在万民中间, 像打过的橄榄树, 又像收割完葡萄园后再去摘取葡萄. (以赛亚书 24:13; 17:6)

经上之所以用 “打过的橄榄树” 和 “收割完葡萄园后再去摘取葡萄” 来作比较, 是因为 “橄榄树” 表示处于属天良善的教会, “葡萄树” 表示处于属灵良善的教会. 因为在圣言中, 由于良善和真理的婚姻, 凡论述良善的地方, 也论述真理. 同样, 凡论述属天之物的地方, 也论述属灵之物. 此外, “属天” 这个术语论及良善, “属灵” 论及真理 (参看9263, 9314节提到的地方); 因此, 这两个术语也论及葡萄树和橄榄树. “葡萄树” 表示属灵教会及其良善和真理 (参看1069, 5113, 6376, 9277节).

因此, “葡萄树” 和 “橄榄树” 在别处被一并提及, 如下列经文, 诗篇:

你妻子在你的房子旁边, 好像多结果子的葡萄树; 你的儿子围绕你的桌子, 好像橄榄栽子. (诗篇 128:3)

哈巴谷书:

虽然无花果树不开花, 葡萄树上无出产, 橄榄树的农作物令人失望. (哈巴谷书 3:17)

阿摩司书:

你们许多的园子和葡萄园, 你们的无花果树和橄榄树都给剪虫吃尽了. (阿摩司书 4:9)

此处之所以也提到 “无花果树”, 是因为 “无花果树” 表示外在教会的良善 (5113节), 而 “葡萄树” 表示内在属灵教会的良善, “橄榄树” 表示内在属天教会的良善. 同样的例子也出现在其它地方.

由于 “橄榄木或油木” 表示属天之爱的良善, 所以圣殿圣所中的两个基路伯是由橄榄木或油木做成的, 双门, 门楣和门框也是 (列王纪上 6:23, 31, 32). 因为圣殿中的圣所代表属天良善所在的至内层天堂, 因此圣所中的一切都表示属天事物. 那里的柜子由于圣所为之存在, 故表示主所在的至内层天堂 (参看9485节).

此外, 圣殿对面的 “橄榄山” 和 “橄榄树” 具有相同的含义, 就像 “黎巴嫩” 和 “香柏树” 具有相信的含义一样. 所以为叫主在世时所做的一切, 尤其神性属天事物能在天堂被代表, 主在耶路撒冷的时候, 经常在橄榄山上, 这一点清楚可见于路加福音:

耶稣每日在殿里施教, 夜里则出去到名叫橄榄的山上过夜. (路加福音 21:37)

别处:

耶稣出来, 照习惯往橄榄山去. (路加福音 22:39)

这山正对着圣殿 (参看马可福音 13:3; 马太福音 24:3).

“橄榄山” 表示属天的神性良善, 这一点清楚可见于撒迦利亚书, 在那里, 经上说:

耶和华的脚必站在耶路撒冷面前的橄榄山上; 祂在那里与列族争战. 这山必裂开, 一半朝东朝海, 成为极大的山谷; 山的一半向北挪移, 一半向南挪移. (撒迦利亚书 14:3, 4)

此处描述的是当主在世上, 与地狱争战并征服它们, 同时恢复天堂的秩序时, 天堂和教会的状态. 祂与之争战的那里的 “列族” 是指来自地狱的邪恶; 祂的脚所站立的 “橄榄山” 是指神性之爱的神性良善, 因为祂凭这良善而争战并战胜; “山朝东朝海裂开, 成为极大的山谷” 表示天堂和地狱的分离, “它向北向南挪移” 也是这个意思; 那些生活在真理之光中的人就被说成是在 “南方”, 那些生活在对良善的爱中的人被说成是在 “东方”; 而那些沉浸于邪恶的人则被说成是 “朝海”, 那些沉浸于虚假的人则被说成是 “朝北”.