But the dangers from without, overwhelming though they seemed, were not so serious as the dangers from within. It was the perversity of his people that brought to the Lord's servant the greatest perplexity and the deepest depression. 306 By their apostasy and rebellion those who should have been standing as light bearers among the nations were inviting the judgments of God. Many of the evils which were hastening the swift destruction of the northern kingdom, and which had recently been denounced in unmistakable terms by Hosea and Amos, were fast corrupting the kingdom of Judah.

Men skønt farerne udefra syntes overvældende, var de dog ikke så alvorlige som farerne indefra. Det var folkets vanartethed, som voldte Herrens tjener flest bryderier og mest sorg. De mennesker, som skulle have været verdens lys, nedkaldte Guds straffedomme over sig ved deres frafald og oprør. Mange af de synder, som fremskyndede nordrigets undergang, og som Hoseas og Amos for nylig havde fordømt i utvetydige vendinger, gik også i svang i Judas rige.