But since you abandoned me and worshiped<n id="1" /> other gods, I will not deliver you again.

However, due to your abundant mercy you did not do away with them altogether; you did not abandon them. For you are a merciful and compassionate God.p>

You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites<n id="1" /> this entire time,<n id="2" /> right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the <sc>Lordsc> your God.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Shemaiah the prophet visited Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were assembled in Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8216;You have rejected me, so I have rejected you and will hand you over to Shishak.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />

They offer burnt sacrifices to the <sc>Lordsc> every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly<n id="1" /> we are observing the <sc>Lordsc> our God&#8217;s regulations, but you have rejected him.

God&#8217;s Spirit energized<n id="1" /> Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them, &#8220;This is what God says: &#8216;Why are you violating the commands of the <sc>Lordsc>? You will not be prosperous! Because you have rejected the <sc>Lordsc>, he has rejected you!&#8217;&#8221;

They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt.<n id="1" /> But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love.<n id="2" /> You did not abandon them,

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Due to your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. The pillar of cloud did not stop guiding them in the path by day,<n id="1" /> nor did the pillar of fire stop illuminating for them by night the path on which they should travel.

&#8220;So then, Jeremiah,<n id="1" /> when your people<n id="2" /> ask, &#8216;Why has the <sc>Lordsc> our God done all this to us?&#8217; tell them, &#8216;It is because you rejected me and served foreign gods in your own land. So<n id="3" /> you must serve foreigners<n id="4" /> in a land that does not belong to you.&#8217;p>

Say to the house of Israel, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Realize I am about to desecrate my sanctuary &#8211; the source of your confident pride,<n id="1" /> the object in which your eyes delight,<n id="2" /> and your life&#8217;s passion.<n id="3" /> Your very own sons and daughters whom you have left behind will die<n id="4" /> by the sword.