1 Kings 16:15-22

(15) В¶ In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. (16) And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. (17) And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. (18) And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, (19) For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. (20) Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? (21) Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. (22) But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.

Is it not somewhat extraordinary, amidst all these revolutions and contentions for the empire, that no one Israelite had firmness of mind enough to propose to return to the house of David! Reader! Is it not still more extraordinary that amidst all the tyranny of sin and Satan, no one sinner hath grace enough to say "I will return to the Lord?" Alas! until the Lord hedges up our way with thorns that we shall not find our lovers; and until the Lord leads us into the wilderness, in order that after straits and difficulties he may speak comfortably to us, no son of Adam will ever think of returning to the Lord. Grace must first enter into the heart before that any cry of returning to the Lord will arise in the soul; and when in great mercy the Lord doth this, the next thing we hear the sinner say is, I will arise and go unto my Father! We have a beautiful illustration of this precious, truth in the case of the church, as described by the prophet; See Hosea 2:1 throughout.