An unfaithful church

Now we are unfaithful to the Lord and we are giving birth to illegitimate children (Hos. 5:7).

Now the church, the bride, is unfaithful to the Lord, the Bridegroom,

and illegitimate children kind of church members are increasing.

Now instead of having the affection of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:8),

we have “a spirit of prostitution” (Hos. 5:4).

As a result, our deeds don’t permit us to return to our God (v. 4).

Furthermore, because of the spirit of prostitution in our hearts, our hearts became arrogant (v. 5).

In the midst of that, we go to the church every Sunday with our “flocks and herds”

to offer them to the Lord and worship Him (v. 6)

even though the Lord takes no pleasure in our “multiplied sacrifice” (Isa. 1:11).

We are just going to appear before Him (v. 12).

We are just trampling of His church (v. 12).

We are bringing “worthless offerings” to Him (v. 13).

The Lord is saying to us, “I cannot endure” any longer (v. 13).

All of them have become a burden to Him and He says, “I am weary of bearing them” (v. 14).

We seek God in this way, but aren’t finding Him (Hos. 5:6).

Now we are not experiencing God's presence and love in worship.

As a result, God will chastise all of us (v. 2).

Nevertheless, the amazing grace of God’s salvation is

when we suffer because of His chastisement,

God makes us to seek His face (v. 15).

And the Lord is sanctifying the church, having cleansed us

by the washing of water with the word,

That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory,

having no spot or wrinkle or any such things;

But that we would be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:26-27).

Therefore, the Lord, the Bridegroom, eventually prepares the church, the bride,

So that we may participate in “the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9).

Therefore, we must return to the Lord (Hos. 6:1).

“For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us” (v. 1).