My Stubborn People (8:4-7): The next oracle denigrates God’s people for their foolish stubbornness. Through a series of rhetorical questions and comparisons, it emphasizes their unwillingness to restore their broken relationship with their God.

8:4–5 The oracle begins with two rhetorical questions. When someone falls they naturally get themselves on their feet again. When someone turns away, presumably from the right path, they try to return to go in the right direction. After these rhetorical questions, the oracle challenges the people with two probing questions that begin with Why? Their actions make no sense.They have refused to return (repent, see Additional Notes). They would rather listen and believe deceit than the truth. This deceit is a reference to the message of the false prophet…