Matthew Henry Commentary Hosea 3:1-3

"And Jehovah said unto me, Go again, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, and an adulteress, even as Jehovah loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins. So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley; and I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be any man`s wife: so will I also be toward thee." — Hosea 3:1-3 (ASV)

People's dislike of true religion is because they love objects and forms that allow them to indulge, instead of mortifying, their lusts. How wonderful it is that a holy God should have goodwill toward those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him!

Here, God's gracious dealings with the fallen human race, which had strayed from Him, are depicted. This is the covenant of grace He is willing to enter into with them; they must be a people to Him, and He will be a God to them. They must accept the punishment of their sin and must not return to folly.

And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are a means of good to us when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of an afflicted state.