But these people have hearts that draw back from God and wills that rebel against Him; they have revolted and quit His service and have gone away [into idolatry].
If the people teach their God’s commands\par to their children,\par then the children will not be like\par their ancestors. {\cf2\super [444]} \par Their ancestors turned against God.\par They refused to obey him.\par Those people were stubborn.\par They were not loyal to God’s Spirit.\par
\{God says,\} “Why should I continue to punish you people? \{I punished you, but you did not change.\} You continue to rebel against me. Now every head and every heart is sick.
The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem\par like men guarding a field.\par Judah, you turned against me!\par So the enemy is coming against you!”\par This message is from the Lord.\par
So I will go to the leaders of Judah.\par I will talk to them.\par Surely the leaders know the way of the Lord.\par I am sure they know the law of their God.”\par But the leaders had all joined together\par to break away from serving the Lord.\par
My people have turned against me,\par and they are very stubborn.\par They say bad things about people.\par They are like bronze and iron,\par that are covered with rust and tarnish.\par
“A man might have a son who is stubborn and refuses to obey. This son doesn’t obey his father or mother. They punish the son, but he still refuses to listen to them.
I know you are very stubborn. I know you want to live your own way. Look, you refused to obey the Lord while I was with you. So I know you will refuse to obey him after I die.