Skip to content
All posts

Your Restoration Is One Word Away: Return.

Picture of Minister Jasmine Scott | The Kingdom Midwife By   ·  3 minute read

Come Home: True Restoration Is in the Returning

A study of Hosea 14 | I am using my "Life More Abundantly Scripture Study Method". If you would like to download the template Click Here. 

Step 1: Scripture

Today’s Passage: Hosea 14
Emphasis Verses: 1–4 & 9

“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.
Say to Him,
‘Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.’
...
Assyria shall not save us,
We will not ride on horses,
Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands,
‘You are our gods.’
For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”

“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him.”

“Who is wise? Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent? Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.”

Selah Moment:
What phrase is tugging at your spirit today?
Pause. Invite the Holy Spirit to breathe on it. Don’t just read—receive.

Step 2: Characters & Context

Characters:

  • The Lord (Yahweh): The one calling His people back—not with wrath, but with mercy. He is not demanding penance. He’s asking for words. He’s not chasing performance. He’s pursuing your return.

  • Israel (Ephraim): The Northern Kingdom, lost in cycles of rebellion, idolatry, and misplaced trust in their own plans. But they are still chosen.

  • Assyria: A symbol of human strength, logic, and worldly alliances. Trust in Assyria is symbolic of trusting anyone or anything but God—including yourself.

  • Horses: In biblical symbolism, horses represent human might, effort, and ability. Riding on horses meant trusting your own power to outrun judgment or hardship.

Place/Setting:
Samaria, just before the Assyrian conquest. This was God’s final plea to a people too proud to repent—yet still dearly loved.

Cultural Background:
God didn’t want their bulls or burnt offerings. He wanted their words—their heart posture. He longed for truth and brokenness, not religion. Hosea 14 is a mercy call to a nation that kept trying to fix themselves without actually returning to the One who could restore them.

💔 Reflection Prompt:

  • Where have you been riding “horses” lately—trying to fix it yourself?

  • Which character feels like your current posture? Are you running, returning, or refusing to respond?

Step 3: Terms to Study Deeper

This is where we dig. Choose a word or phrase that stands out and look it up in Hebrew/Greek or a Bible dictionary. Let’s see what’s hidden in plain sight.

  • Word/Phrase 1: “Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’ For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”

    • Meaning & Revelation:

      • Reliance on “the work of our own hands” is where our stumbling and inequity show up. Iniquity is our flesh’s natural tendency to sin. “Horses” in biblical texts refer to human strength and ability. There is a common theme of relying on oneself or other human assistance rather than trusting God.

      • This iniquity is born from feeling fatherless. Being fatherless leaves you uncovered and vulnerable to attack. You have to fend for yourself, teaching you to rely and trust only in yourself. God wants to heal this by being your father and covering. This Month’s Masterclass will teach in-depth on “The Orphan Syndrome.” It will explore how some Christians may know in their minds that God loves them but struggle with believing it internally and how it shows up in hyper independence and impostor syndrome.

  • Word/Phrase 2 :“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,
    For My anger has turned away from him.”

    • Meaning & Revelation:

      • God proclaims, "I will heal!" This iniquity is not something we can heal on our own or through self-help books. It happens through an intimate, intentional, and obedient relationship with God as our Father!

      • Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have grace. This dealt with the legality of sin so that God could heal the impact of sin on His children. He can love us freely and without wrath, uprooting sin's generational effect. Love is the antidote—not just any love, the love of our Father!

Midwife's Note:
Sometimes a single word carries enough weight to realign our entire mindset. Let the Lord highlight which one matters for you today.

Step 4: Practical Takeaways

Let’s bring it home. The Word is living—it transforms. What can you apply to your walk this week?

Ask Yourself:

  • What is God inviting me to believe, do, or release?

  • Is there a shift in my thinking, my rhythm, or my relationships that this passage is leading me toward?

Journal Prompt:
Write out a sentence that starts with “Today I will…” or “This week I’m aligning with…”

Step 5: Revelation (Your Rhema Word)

Now pause and ask:

“Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me right now through this Word?”

This is the part where the scripture becomes personal. This is your rhema—your now word from Heaven.

Write It Down:

  • What did you hear, feel, or sense in prayer?

  • Is there a declaration or promise to hold on to?

  • How does this shift your identity, hope, or next step?

Prophetic Activation: Declare your rhema out loud. Pray it back to the Father. Sit with it. This is the seed you’re birthing.

Final Encouragement

Beloved, the Lord is midwifing something holy in you through this Word. Don’t rush the process. Linger. Listen. Let it birth bold obedience, deeper trust, and renewed intimacy.

Until next time on The Midwife’s Porch,

With oil and expectancy,
Jasmine | The Kingdom Midwife