Matthew Henry Commentary Hosea 2:6-13

"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths. 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. For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. Therefore will I take back my grain in the time thereof, and my new wine in the season thereof, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness. And now will I uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of my hand. I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feasts, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn assemblies. And I will lay waste her vines and her fig-trees, whereof she hath said, These are my hire that my lovers have given me; and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. And I will visit upon her the days of the Baalim, unto which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith Jehovah." — Hosea 2:6-13 (ASV)

God threatens what He would do to this treacherous, idolatrous people. They did not turn; therefore, all this came upon them, and it is written for our admonition. If lesser difficulties are overcome, God will raise greater ones. Those most resolute in sinful pursuits are commonly most thwarted 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 should be regarded as such; 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 severe pain, sickness, or calamity, if it keeps us from sin. The disappointments we encounter in seeking satisfaction from the creature should, if nothing else will do it, drive us to the Creator.

When people forget, or do not consider that their comforts come from God, He will often, in mercy, take them away to bring them to reflect on their folly and danger. Sin and mirth can never long remain together; but if people will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirth from their sin. And if people destroy God's word and ordinances, it is just for Him to destroy their vines and fig-trees.

This will be the ruin of their mirth. Taking away the solemn seasons and the Sabbaths will not suffice, as they will readily part with them and consider it no loss; but He will take away their sensual pleasures. Days of sinful mirth must be met with days of mourning.