God asks this question to force Israel to confront the inevitable consequences of their spiritual complacency. By framing it as a question rather than a declaration, He invites them to think ahead to their judgment and realize they have no answer, no escape, and no defense when divine reckoning arrives.

The text records no verbal reply. Israel’s response was behavioral: they continued to love the arrangement of false prophecy and corrupt priestly rule, demonstrating their preference for comfortable deception over difficult truth.

God’s question exposes the tragic irony of Israel’s spiritual condition. The prophets prophesy falsely, using the Hebrew sheqer meaning deception or lies, while priests rule by their direction, creating an entire religious system built on falsehood. Most damning of all, God says ‘my people love to have it so.’ Why does God ask rather than simply declare judgment? The interrogative form forces self-examination, pressing Israel to envision the moment of reckoning and realize they have no answer, no plan, no hope if they continue this path. The question carries the weight of divine sorrow mixed with warning, giving one more opportunity for repentance before the end comes.