Through faithful messengers the Lord sent repeated warnings to the apostate king and the people, but in vain were these words of reproof. In vain aid the inspired messengers assert Jehovah's right to be the only God in Israel; in vain did they exalt the laws that He had entrusted to them. Captivated by the gorgeous display and the fascinating rites of idol worship, the people followed the example of the king and his court, and gave themselves up to the intoxicating, degrading pleasures of a sensual worship. In their blind folly they chose to reject God and His worship. The light so graciously given them had become darkness. The fine gold had become dim.

Herren lod gentagne gange trofaste sendebud advare den frafaldne konge og det frafaldne folk, men uden resultat. Det var forgæves, at de inspirerede sendebud forsvarede Herrens eneret til at være Israels Gud, og at de ophøjede de love, som han havde betroet dem. Folket blev revet med af afgudsdyrkelsens pragtopbud og fængslende rivaler; de fulgte i kongens og hoffets spor og kastede sig ud i en sanselig gudsdyrkelses berusende, nedværdigende glæder. I deres blindhed og dårskab forkastede de Gud. Det lys, som Gud i sin nåde havde givet dem, var blevet mørke. Det fine guld havde mistet sin glans.