Forsaking The One True G-d

When you listen to what fellowmen have to say, disregarding what G-d has spoken through His servants the prophets — destruction awaits you!

Stubbornness. Pride. Arrogance. All are products of disobedience and rebellion against G-d. To serve the gods of others that G-d never commanded.

“Loyalty Versus Idolatry”

“G-d Of Wood And Stone”

“Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus said Hashem: I recall for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me into the Wilderness, into an unsown land.
2:2
Israel is holy to Hashem, the first of His crop; all who devour it will be held guilty; evil shall come upon them — the word of Hashem.
2:3
Thus said Hashem: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me and pursued futility, and became futile?
:5
But they did not say, ‘Where is Hashem, …
:6
The Kohanim did not say, ‘Where is Hashem?: those charged with teaching the Torah did not know Me; the shepherds rebelled against Me; the prophets prophesied by the Baal; and they went after those that cannot avail.
:8
Has a nation [ever] exchanged its gods, though they are not [genuine] gods? Yet My people has exchanged its Glory for something of no avail.
:11
For My people has committed two evils: They have forsaken me, the source of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold the water.
:13
Has this not been done to you [because] you forsake Hashem, your God, when He leads you on the path?
:17
Your evil shall castigate you; your waywardness shall chasten you; realize and understand that your forsaking of Hashem, your God, is evil and bitter, and that My awe was not upon you — the word of my Lord, Hashem/Elohim, Master of Legions.
:19
For I have always broken your yoke and torn off your straps, and you have said, ‘I will not transgress!’ Yet upon every lofty hill and under every leafy tree you wander like a harlot.
:20
Even if you were to wash with niter and use much soap, your iniquity has become a stain before Me — the word of my Lord, Hashem/Elohim.
:22
Withhold your foot from barefootedness and your throat from thirst! But you have said, ‘It is hopeless! No! For I am in love with strangers and after them will I go.’
:25
They said to the wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to the stone, ‘You have borne us.’ To Me they turned their backs and not their faces; but in their time of distress they will say, ‘Arise and save us!’
:27
Now where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your distress; for as the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah.
:28
Why should you contend with Me? You have all rebelled against Me — the word of Hashem.
:29
Can a maiden forget her jewelry? A bride her adornments? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
:32
that you say, ‘No I am pure; His anger will subside from me!’ Behold, I am [entering] into judgment with you because of your saying, ‘I have not sinned.’
:35

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: so said the Lord: I remember to you the lovingkindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me in the desert, in a land not sown.
3 Israel is holy to the Lord, the first of His grain; all who eat him shall be guilty, evil shall befall them, says the Lord.
4 Hearken to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 So says the Lord: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, and they went after futility and themselves became futile?
6 And they did not say, “Where is the Lord, Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us in the desert, in a land of plains and pits, in a land of waste and darkness, in a land where no man had passed and where no man had dwelt.
7 And I brought you to a forest land to eat of its produce and its goodness, and you came and contaminated My land, and made My heritage an abomination.
8 The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?” And those who hold onto the Torah did not know Me and the rulers rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what does not avail.
9 Therefore, I will still contend with you, says the Lord, and with your children’s children will I contend.
10 For pass over [to] the isles of the Kittites and see, and send to Kedar and consider diligently, and see whether there was any such thing,
11 Whether a nation exchanged a god although they are not gods. Yet My nation exchanged their glory for what does not avail.
12 Oh heavens, be astonished about this, and storm, become very desolate, says the Lord.
13 For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he a home-born slave? Why has he become a prey?
15 Young lions roar over him: they have raised their voice, and they have made his land a desolation; his cities were burnt without an inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahpanhes will break your crown.
17 Is not this caused to you by your forsaking the Lord your God at the time He leads you by the way?
18 And now, what have you to do in the way of Egypt to drink the water of the Shihor and what have you to do in the way of Assyria to drink the water of the river?
19 Your evil will chastise you, and your backslidings will reprove you, and you shall know and see that your forsaking the Lord your God is evil and bitter, and fear of Me was not upon you, says the Lord God of Hosts.
20 For of old I broke your yoke, I tore open your yoke-bands, and you said, “I will not transgress,” but on every lofty hill and under every leafy tree, you recline as a harlot.
21 Yet I planted you a noble vine stock, throughout of right seed; now how have you turned yourself into a degenerate wild vine to Me?
22 For if you wash with natron and use much soap, your iniquity is stained before Me, says the Lord God.
23 How do you say, “I have not been defiled; I have not gone after the Baalim”? See your way in the valley, know what you have done, [like] a swift young she-camel, clinging to her ways.
24 A wild donkey accustomed to the desert, that snuffs up the wind in her desire, her tendency like the sea creatures, who can hinder her? All who seek her will not weary; in her month they will find her.
25 Withhold your foot from going barefoot and your throat from thirst; but you said, “I despair. No, for I love strangers, and I will follow them.”
26 As the shame of a thief when he is found out, so have the house of Israel been ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets.
27 They say to the wood, “You are my father,” and to the stone, “You bore us,” for they turned to Me their nape and not their face, and at the time of their misfortune they say, “Arise and save us. “
28 Now where are your gods that you have made for yourself; let them get up if they will save you at the time of your misfortune, for as many as your cities were your gods, O Judea.
29 Why should you strive with Me? All of you have rebelled against Me, says the Lord.
30 In vain have I smitten your children, they received no correction. Your sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, you see the word of the Lord. Was I a desert to Israel or a land of thick darkness? Why have My people said, “We have been separated; we will no longer come to You”?
32 Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her ribbons? Yet My people have forgotten Me for countless days.
33 How you adorn your way to seek love! Verily, even to the most evil you accustomed your ways.
34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor; you did not find them breaking in, but for all these.
35 And you said, “But I am innocent, surely His wrath has gone away from me.” Behold, I contend with you concerning because you say, “I have not sinned.”
36 How you degrade yourself exceedingly to change your way! You shall also be ashamed through Egypt as you were ashamed through Assyria.
37 Also from this one shall you go out with your hands on your head, for the Lord has despised those whom you trust, and you shall not prosper through them.