當像智慧、通達人，不要像愚昧人(何14章)

誰是智慧人，可以明白這些事；誰是通達人，可以知道這一切。因為耶和華的道是正直的，義人必在其中行走，罪人卻在其上跌倒。(何 14：9)

這是何西阿書的結尾，也是最後的結論。回想何西阿書的一開始，從先知娶了一個淫婦，再歷經背叛、付贖金贖回妻子，藉由這些作為，使先知與真神感同身受，對以色列人發出警告。然而何西阿書中的警告，也在以色列「正式滅亡」後結束。何西阿先知也不再看見他的任何活動，歷史上也不再有關於他的說明。

回到今天的我們，信仰其實很簡單，只要「聽從神的一切吩咐」就可以。但是這聽從的動作，是今天世人最忌諱做的事，因為不能展現自我，不能自我實現。所以今天在這個世界所到的，就是有越來越少的人，願意聽從、順服，所以全世界爭端不斷，到處都充滿衝突。

可是，從真理來看，若是不願意聽從神的話，切時真理當中，就不是智慧人。何西阿書結束了，其中的主角「以法蓮」的特徵就是自以為是、我行我素、背棄真神、崇拜偶像，最後自取滅亡，甚至在啟示錄的十四萬四千人中，在那最關鍵的點名大會裡，缺席了。

為了避免以法滅亡的路，本章再次強調，也是神早就說過的話，不是新的突發奇想，那就是：

以色列阿、你要歸向耶和華你的神．你是因自己的罪孽跌倒了。當歸向耶和華、用言語禱告他說、求你除淨罪孽、悅納善行、這樣、我們就把嘴唇的祭代替牛犢獻上。我們不向亞述求救．不騎埃及的馬．也不再對我們手所造的說、你是我們的　神、因為孤兒在你耶和華那裏得蒙憐憫。(何 14：1-3)

這裡可以見到的智慧人的基本動作，就是「歸向神」。要歸向神，就要承認自己的罪孽。藉由悔改的禱告，也就是「嘴唇的祭」，這才是神最喜歡的。這樣的祭，更甚於獻牛犢的祭。人若不聽神的命令，獻再多都沒有用。

我朝見耶和華、在至高神面前跪拜、當獻上甚麼呢？豈可獻一歲的牛犢為燔祭麼？耶和華豈喜悅千千的公羊、或是萬萬的油河麼？我豈可為自己的罪過獻我的長子麼？為心中的罪惡獻我身所生的麼？世人哪、耶和華已指示你何為善。他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義、好憐憫、存謙卑的心、與你的神同行。(彌 6：6-8)

「行公義、好憐憫、存謙卑的心、與你的神同行」就是神所喜悅的是，確實去行了，在神的面前，比千千的公羊、萬萬的油河更加珍貴、更加有價值。

另外，就是要「不向亞述求救，不騎埃及的馬，不再對手所造的說：『你是我的神』」，簡單的說，就是過著分別為聖的生活，不要朝思暮想著世界上的一切。

何西阿書的總結，就是要我們活得有智慧，當像智慧人，不要像愚昧人。這智慧與愚昧之間，就是智慧人樂於聽從神；然而愚昧人，總是喜愛做自己。

你們要謹慎行事、不要像愚昧人、當像智慧人．要愛惜光陰、因為現今的世代邪惡。不要作糊塗人、要明白主的旨意如何。(弗 5：15-17)

By Isaiah Kao

Be Like the Wise and Discerning, Not Like the Foolish (Hosea 14)

November 5, 2026

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but wrongdoers will stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9, NASB 2020)

This is the conclusion of the Book of Hosea and its conclusion. Looking back to the beginning of the book, the prophet was instructed to marry an unfaithful woman. After experiencing betrayal, he eventually paid the price to redeem his wife. Through these experiences, the prophet came to share the feelings of the true God and delivered warnings to the people of Israel. However, the warnings recorded in Hosea also came to an end after Israel's "final destruction" as a nation. The prophet Hosea was no longer mentioned, and there are no further historical records describing his activities.

Coming back to our lives today, the principle of faith is actually very simple: all we need to do is obey everything God commands us. Yet obedience is precisely what people today are most unwilling to practice, because it does not allow them to affirm themselves or pursue their own self-fulfillment. As a result, fewer and fewer people in today's world are willing to listen and submit. Therefore, conflicts continue around the world, and disputes are everywhere.

However, according to the truth, those who are unwilling to obey God's word and remain in the truth cannot be considered wise. 

The Book of Hosea has come to an end. Its central figure, "Ephraim," was characterized by self-righteousness, doing things his own way, forsaking the true God, and worshiping idols. Eventually, he brought destruction upon himself. He was even absent from the 144,000 mentioned in the Book of Revelation, missing from that most crucial roll call.

To avoid following the path of Ephraim to destruction, this chapter once again emphasizes something God had already said long ago. It is not a new or unexpected idea. Rather, it is this:

Return, Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your wrongdoing. Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all guilt and receive us graciously, so that we may present the fruit of our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, 'Our god,' to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy." (Hosea 14:1–3, NASB 2020)

Here we see the fundamental action of a wise person: returning to God. To return to God, we must first acknowledge our own sins. Through prayers of repentance, which are the "offering of our lips," we offer what pleases God most. Such an offering is even more precious than sacrificing calves. If people do not obey God's commands, no matter how many sacrifices they offer, they are of no value.

With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take pleasure in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6–8, NASB 2020)

"To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" is what pleases God. What truly matters is putting these teachings into practice. Doing so is far more precious and valuable in God's sight than thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil.

Another important point is that we must "not seek help from Assyria, not ride on horses from Egypt, and no longer say to the work of our hands, 'You are our god.'" In simple terms, this means living a sanctified life, set apart for God, rather than constantly longing for everything this world has to offer.

The final message of the Book of Hosea is that we should live wisely. Let us be like the wise, not like the foolish. The difference between wisdom and foolishness lies in this, wise people are willing and glad to obey God, while foolish people always prefer to do things their own way.

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15–17, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao