The Calves of Our Lips
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 (Hos. 14:2 KJV)
The prophet Hosea saw in the spirit the blessedness of the believer in Christ as expressed in the words on Hos. 14:2 above. He prays that the Lord should take away all iniquity and receive them graciously. This is precisely what the Lord has done for us in Christ. Hosea went further to say “ so will we render the calves of our lips.” What are the calves of our lips?
Calves are young bulls which were used for sacrifices. Hosea ’s statement the “calve of our lips” means he understood there was a kind of sacrifice that comes from his lips. He recognized that there was a calve, or a sacrificial bull in his mouth. He tells us what this sacrificial bull is in the same verse above with the words “take with you words.” The words of our mouth are spiritual sacrifices. The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Hebrews “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:15 KJV). He calls our words of praise and thanksgiving the fruit of our lips, similar to what the prophet Hosea called the “calve of our lips.”
There is a sacrifice, well-pleasant to God in your mouth. It is a sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, and worship. Offer unto the Lord the sacrifice of praise continually!
MEDITATE
The sacrificial calves of the OT were shadows of the true sacrifices to come( Heb. 10:1). Can you see one of the reasons why the Lord says you are the true worshipper in Christ?
APPLY THE WORD
Put this Word to work in your life from today onwards. Your life should be a living sacrifice, a perpetual altar of praise and worship from your mouth but also from your heart! ( Eph. 5:19).
PRAY
Open your mouth now and render unto the Lord the calves of praise, worship and thanksgiving!
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Wonderful and beautiful of your sacrifices of sharing may the Lord God continue to endow you with this bond of love of sharing His great goodness
Amen,thank you!
Hello
I found this verse for the first time yesterday, and loved it so much I researched it and found your comments; thank you. This is such a wonderful, and strange, image God has given us, but how blessed we are to have it and to understand it. And above all, to do it…
Wonderful, praise the Lord! Thank you for sharing that fascinating story with us.Amazing how the Spirit pops a verse into your heart for that season in your life. Blessings