They were worshiping the Lord and at the same time serving their own gods in accordance with the practices of the nations from which they had been deported.

The Lord says, "Do not start following pagan religious practices. Do not be in awe of signs that occur in the sky even though the nations hold them in awe.

Ye have

but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.' But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?

For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors.

However, you must confess that you have done wrong, and that you have rebelled against the Lord your God. You must confess that you have given yourself to foreign gods under every green tree, and have not obeyed my commands,' says the Lord.

The Lord answered, "This has happened because these people have rejected my laws which I gave them. They have not obeyed me or followed those laws.

This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the Lord by doing what he sent me to tell you.

So Johanan son of Kareah, all the army officers, and all the rest of the people did not obey the Lord's command to stay in the land.

She is disobedient; she refuses correction. She does not trust the Lord; she does not seek the advice of her God.

But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"

And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

General references

Yet he took notice of their distress, when he heard their cry for help.

They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.