Israel's confession is tested beyond crisis words

Israel serves many gods, and oppression comes from two sides

The children of Israel do evil again, serve Baalim, Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, the children of Ammon, and the Philistines, and forsake the LORD, and serve him not. The LORD's anger is hot. He sells them into the hands of the Philistines and of the children of Ammon. That year they vex and oppress the children of Israel eighteen years, all Israel beyond Jordan in the land of the Amorites, Gilead, and Ammon also crosses to fight Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. Israel is sore distressed.

The compressed list of gods and oppressors may gather several memories. Ancient names are not coded modern groups. Suffering does not prove that every victim secretly worshiped the wrong god. Israel's failure is covenant critique within Jewish Scripture, never a warrant for contempt toward Jewish people.

God refuses a cry that still keeps the other gods, then grief meets enacted turning

Israel cries, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God and also served Baalim. The LORD answers with a history of deliverance from Egypt, Amorites, Ammon, Philistines, Zidonians, Amalek, and Maon, and with a refusal: ye have forsaken me and served other gods; wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

The children of Israel say, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. They put away the strange gods from among them and serve the LORD. His soul is grieved for the misery of Israel, a shortening of patience that marks compassion toward misery. Emergency language is not enough. Removal of the gods makes the confession concrete. Repentance is not a technique that controls the next military outcome. Verse 17 will still open onto assembled armies.