Samuel said to all the people of Israel, &#8220;If you are really turning to the <sc>Lordsc> with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth.<n id="1" /> Give your hearts to the <sc>Lordsc> and serve only him. Then he will deliver you<n id="2" /> from the hand of the Philistines.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;And you, Solomon my son, obey<n id="1" /> the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit,<n id="2" /> for the <sc>Lordsc> examines all minds and understands every motive of one&#8217;s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him,<n id="3" /> but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.

For the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8220;I have put an irresistible yoke of servitude on all these nations<n id="2" /> so they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And they will indeed serve him. I have even given him control over the wild animals.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="3" />