6 "Therefore , behold , I will hedge up her way with thorns , And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths . 7 "She will pursue her lovers , but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say , ' I will go back to my first husband , For it was better for me then than now !' 8 "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain , the new wine and the oil , And lavished on her silver and gold , Which they used for Baal . 9 "Therefore , I will take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season . I will also take away My wool and My flax Given to cover her nakedness . 10 "And then I will uncover her lewdness In the sight of her lovers , And no one will rescue her out of My hand . 11 "I will also put an end to all her gaiety , Her feasts , her new moons , her sabbaths And all her festal assemblies . 12 "I will destroy her vines and fig trees , Of which she said , 'These are my wages Which my lovers have given me.' And I will make them a forest , And the beasts of the field will devour them. 13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals When she used to offer sacrifices to them And adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry , And follow e her lovers , so that she forgot Me," declares the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 2:6-13
Commentary on Hosea 2:6-13
(Read Hosea 2:6-13)
God threatens what he would do with this treacherous, idolatrous people. They did not turn, therefore all this came upon them; and it is written for admonition to us. If lesser difficulties be got over, God will raise greater. The most resolute in sinful pursuits, are commonly most crossed in them. The way of God and duty is often hedged about with thorns, but we have reason to think it is a sinful way that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses and obstacles in an evil course are great blessings, and are to be so accounted; they are God's hedges, to keep us from transgressing, to make the way of sin difficult, and to keep us from it. We have reason to bless God for restraining grace, and for restraining providences; and even for sore pain, sickness, or calamity, if it keeps us from sin. The disappointments we meet with in seeking for satisfaction from the creature, should, if nothing else will do it, drive us to the Creator. When men forget, or consider not that their comforts come from God, he will often in mercy take them away, to bring them to think upon their folly and danger. Sin and mirth can never hold long together; but if men will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirth from their sin. And if men destroy God's word and ordinances, it is just with him to destroy their vines and fig-trees. This shall be the ruin of their mirth. Taking away the solemn seasons and the sabbaths will not do it, they will readily part with them, and think it no loss; but He will take away their sensual pleasures. Days of sinful mirth must be visited with days of mourning.