Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto
them. Thus saith the Lord God: Yet in this your fathers have
blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up
mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all
the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there
they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they
made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And
the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. Wherefore say unto
the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after
the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their
abominations? For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons
to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols,
even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of
Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by
you. And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that
ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries,
to serve wood and stone (verses 27-32).
According to His promise He brought them into the land. He did not go
back on His Word, in spite of their failure, for God's gifts and calling
are without repentance. And thus they continued in their evil ways,
committing all manner of abominations. And therefore the Lord said to
the inquiring elders, "And shall I be enquired of by you, O house of
Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by
you." Verse 32 shows that in the iniquity of their heart they wanted to
be like the heathen to serve wood and stone; but God would take care
that this should not be, for He had chosen them to be His nation.