In response to God declaring, “I have loved you,” they said, “How have you loved us?”  Clearly they questioned God’s affirmation of love.  We don’t always understand God’s love for us.  We might not see evidence that satisfies us.  But that God loves us as believers is affirmed throughout the Bible.  We couldn’t know Him personally if it was not for His loving choice of us.  That choice wasn’t because we are good or with our performance.  It was a sovereign choice motivated by love. 

We should avoid questioning God’s love.  Such questioning often leads to contempt, verse 6, and that results in not honoring Him as our Father or respecting Him as our Master.  This was seen in the defiled and unacceptable offerings the priests brought to the altar for worship.  The prophet rhetorically asks in verse 8, “Try offering them to your governor!  Would he be pleased with you?  Would he accept you?”  The answer clearly is “NO!”  Likewise, God would prefer to see someone shut the temple doors. 

So avoid God’s displeasure.  Going through unacceptable rituals is nothing more than a burden.  And God detests burdensome worship.  So we should avoid this kind of worship.