^{Hosea 3:1-5} Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an 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 for [another] man: so [will] I also [be] for thee. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Hosea 3 is a very short chapter, but it displayed God's entire salvation plan: children of Israel represent God's elects. Although they are like adulteress (Israel was the LORD's wife, but “who look for other gods”, and became other gods' wife), according to the Law (Deu 22:23-24), “ ye shall stone them with stones that they die”, the LORD still loves them: therefore the LORD paid by himself (fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: total cost of thirty pieces of silver (Mat 26:15 Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver)) and “I (the LORD) bought (redeemed) her to me (himself)”. Therefore that Jesus was sold, crucified and raised on the third day was a payment to buy/redeem/engage us for Himself, before He went up to heaven, He promised to come again to marry us as a bride (Rev 21:2). Thus before He comes again, we the fiancee shall abide for Him many days and “ shalt not play the harlot, and shalt not be for [another] man (shalt not worship other god)”! Wonderfully He Himself also promised us that “so [will] I also [be] for thee.”: the LORD will abide for us as well? What does this mean? “Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” (Heb 9:1) But in the new convenant, this divine service was fulfilled once Jesus raised on the third day (fully paid for). (Heb 9:10 [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.), from then on the LORD Jesus He Himself will not receive gift (divine service/worship) from men until He comes again. (Mat ^26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.) So during these “many days” while we are waiting for Him as His fiancee, we shall keep His words: “without a king”: lest we might worship a king, “and without a prince”: lest we might listen to a prince, “and without a sacrifice”: lest we might perform worship service again, “and without an image”: lest we might worship idols, “and without an ephod”: no priest lest we might follow to perform woship service again, “and [without] teraphim”: lest we might worship our own god(s). He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Afterward (when Jesus returns) shall the children of Israel (we) return, and seek the LORD their God, and David (Jesus) their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days (marry Him). Amen.