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They were not a people ignorant of the Law. The Lord declared that He had written His Law unto them. In His writing He had made known to them all the multiplied wonders of His Law. It would produce in them health both for the natural and the spiritual man. For them, obedience to the Law would have made them the head of the nations. Best of all, through its concepts they would know the Lord. Hos. 8:12 It was discounted and discarded for the purpose of idol worship. In so doing they provoked the Lord to jealousy. Deut. 32:16 Ps. 78:58 So far had they drifted from the Lord that the Law was a foreign thing to them.
Offerings were continually being offered in the name of Jehovah but their focus was upon their idols, which to them, represented the Lord. It made them like the heathen. They could now point out, for instance, the two golden calves which were create by Jeroboam. 2 Chron. 13:8 This followed the pattern of Aaron when he made the golden calf. Ex. 32:4, 8 The calf was formed after an Egyptian idol. They had been too long in captivity and had taken on Egyptian ways and worship. The LORD was very mindful of their actions and would respond by remembering their idolatrous acts and disobedience in worship. Therefore, their sins would be visited upon them. They would learn that there was a price to be paid for their iniquity. Though they were to be scattered abroad, there is no doubt that a segment of them returned to Egypt and back into bondage once again. Hos. 8:13.
Israel had come to a place where their memory of the mighty works of the Lord was being pushed aside by their idolatry. Like those of our day who have had blessed experiences in the Lord but now attribute those times to the emotions of their youth. Others by means of shear neglect forget the Lord. Then there is that place where people are overcome by the cares of this world and have no time for the Lord. Mark 4:19 Israel was so busy building temples unto their idol gods that they had no time for the Lord. They deserted the very One who brought them into existence and made a great nation of them. Hos. 8:14 He was their creator and had repeatedly made manifest His love and care for them. Ps. 106:21 His constant care, and love is evidenced in the ministry of the prophets sent to them.