The condition of Israel is described in Isaiah, "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid my face and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart" (Isa. 57:17). God had dealt with them about their lingering sinful desire in many ways—by affliction and desertion. But it survived all of his efforts. This is a sad condition.