8-9 “Taking advantage of that weakness, you are asserting yourself against the very rule of God that is delegated to David’s descendants—you think you are so big with your huge army backed up by the golden-calf idols that Jeroboam made for you as gods! But just look at what you’ve done—you threw out the priests of God, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests to suit yourselves, priests just like the pagans have. Anyone who shows up with enough money to pay for it can be a priest! A priest of No-God!

10-11 “But for the rest of us in Judah, we’re sticking with God. We have not traded him in for the latest model—we’re keeping the tried-and-true priests of Aaron to lead us to God and the Levites to lead us in worship by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and aromatic incense to God at the daily morning and evening prayers, setting out fresh holy bread on a clean table, and lighting the lamps on the golden Lampstand every night. We continue doing what God told us to in the way he told us to do it; but you have rid yourselves of him.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

The One Year Bible MSG, Large Print Thinline Edition--softcover
The One Year Bible MSG, Large Print Thinline Edition--softcover
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $19.99
Save: $5.00 (20%)
The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year - eBook
The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year - eBook
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $14.71
Save: $10.28 (41%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
The Message Bible--soft leather-look, sky blue
The Message Bible--soft leather-look, sky blue
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $39.99
Save: $10.00 (20%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message//REMIX 2.0, Vintage Brown & Navy
The Message//REMIX 2.0, Vintage Brown & Navy
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $32.99
Save: $7.00 (18%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars