God’s Anger

Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God.  They abandoned the LORD and his Temple; they turned their backs on him.  They also shut the doors to the Temple’s foyer, and they snuffed out the lamps.  They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.  That is why the LORD’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem.  He has made us an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can so plainly see.  Our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.  But now I will make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.  My dear Levites, do not neglect your duties any longer!  The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and make offerings to him. (2 Chronicles 29:6-11 NLT)