‘Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
    you who are called by the name of Israel
    and come from the line of Judah,
you who take oaths in the name of the Lord
    and invoke the God of Israel –
    but not in truth or righteousness…

‘Jacob’ was crooked, a deceiver – as twisted as a barley sugar stick! The name can mean ‘supplanter’. But he was given the name ”Israel” after his encounter with the angel at ‘Peniel’ (Gen 32:28), and this spoke of better things: a new name and a new nature. In a chapter that highlights a lot of the ”Jacob” character in the history of God’s people, it’s good to be able to hold on to the hope in the name ”Israel”.

That they came ”from the line of Judah” also points to their high destiny (Gen 49:10) even though they lived well below the level of their privileges, taking ”oaths in the name of the Lord”, invoking Him in their prayers, ”but not in truth or righteousness”.

”…  you who use God’s name to back up your promises
    and pray to the God of Israel?
But do you mean it?
    Do you live like it? (The Message).

I am reminded of Jesus saying to the Samaritan woman:

 ”Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.’ ” (Jn.4:23,24).

It is only through the New Covenant, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, that we are able to fulfil God’s intentions for our worship of Him, even though this will inevitably always fall short of perfection this side of eternity.