“Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply,“for you are the Lord our God. Our worship of idols on the hills and our religious orgies on the mountains are a delusion. Only in the Lord our God will Israel ever find salvation. From childhood we have watched as everything our ancestors worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters—was squandered on a delusion. Let us now lie down in shame and cover ourselves with dishonor,for we and our ancestors have sinned against the Lord our God.From our childhood to this day we have never obeyed him.”

Yet you say to me,‘Father, you have been my guide since my youth.5Surely you won’t be angry forever!Surely you can forget about it!’So you talk,but you keep on doing all the evil you can.”

“Return home, you wayward children,”says the Lord,

“if you wanted to return to me, you could.You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. Then when you swear by my name, saying,‘As surely as the Lord lives,’you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness.Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,and all people would come and praise my name.”

“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord.“They are stupid children who have no understanding.They are clever enough at doing wrong,but they have no idea how to do right!”

Lord God my Father,

Expose my idols, allow me to see my weakness and turn away from it. Use me for your desire, Give me your wisdom in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen