Charles Spurgeon Commentary Hosea 2:7

"And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now." — Hosea 2:7 (ASV)

And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them:

Thus sinners go after the pleasures of the world, and the pleasures run away from them. They make one thing their god, and then another; and they put out all their strength to attain the object of their ambition; and God thwarts them. In infinite love, he baffles all their endeavors because he means to bring them to himself.

Then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now (Hosea 2:7).

That is what He brings us to; weary of the world, yes, weary of life itself, we get worn out in the ways of evil, and then we say, "I will go to God." What a blessed conclusion to come to! However terrible the whip with which He scourges us, it does us good. The fierce billow that washes the mariner upon the rock of safety is a blessing to him.

And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them;

They cannot find satisfaction in sinful pleasure; what they once easily obtained, they will no longer be able to procure.

And she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

Am I addressing a backslider? Has God hedged up your way? Is there a whisper in your heart which reminds you of better days and happier times? Oh, do not stifle that whisper! Let it be heard within your spirit; if it is only a gentle voice, listen to it until it increases in force and sounds like the very voice of God in your soul; it will be for your present and eternal good if you do so.