1) This seems to be a rather plaintive response from God, like someone recounting a lost love (see v.1-2).
2) This is probably done in a covenant lawsuit format. where God lays charges against the people.It's similar to the j'accuse of Zola against those who persecuted Dreyfus.
3) The typical recital of god's mighty acts turns into Israel abandoning this God who saves them from chaos.
4) idolatry is given a twist here: going after worthless things makes us worthless. Miller in NIB (598) notes that worthless things is a phrase for ldols in lots of this book.
5) the same point get amplified with this issue of profit and loss. Seeking for prosperity comes in following God, not in the idols that promise such profit.Here one could play the song, "isn't it ironic?" we have profitless prophets.
6) To me, it is interesting that the religious are indicted for complaining but not framing the complaint as prayer.
7)Again, part of the torah/instruction is justice.
8) with use of water imagery, God says that the people have exchanged poor wells or cracked cisterns when they had fresh water right in front of them. A spring is replaced with an old leaky rain barrel.
9) what historical recital could one give for contemporary life where we abandon God in search of profitless things?
10) What idolatrous allegiances do we continue to profess, especially in ideology?
11) What sense of the absence of God prompts our search for quick fix idols?