Seek Yahweh, and you will live; Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.
The great contrast in these verses is between "Seek Jehovah" and "Seek not Bethel," or any other of the false shrines.  The limitation which Almighty God has placed upon those who would truly seek him should never be overlooked.  People who are merely doing what pleases them religiously are just as hopeless as were those ancient Israelites condemned in this chapter.  As Keil put it: "God can only be sought, however, in his revelation, or in the manner in which he wishes to be sought, or worshipped."[20]  Jamieson's comment on this verse is: