The treacherous attitude of the people towards the Lord is seen in the fact that they speak falsely of him. They say, He will do nothing.
Literally they say, Not he.
This is not a denial of the Lord’s existence, but rather a kind of practical atheism in which they express the belief that the Lord will do nothing about what happens in the life of his people. There is no need to take the Lord into account when deciding how to live.1 In particular, the Lord will not pour out his judgment onto Judah. No disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine.
This is the complacency of a people who no longer believe that the Lord will hold them accountable for their covenant failure. Instead, they assume the blessings and privileges of the covenant, regardless of their behaviour.2
12 Ils renient l'Eternel, ils disent: Il n'existe pas! Et le malheur ne viendra pas sur nous, Nous ne verrons ni l'épée ni la famine.