In the great deportation, Nebuchadnezzar took the skilled, educated and fighting men leaving only the poor of the land. These who were left worked the land and kept the buildings repaired. 

Words of wisdom from Gay Farley:

The poor who were left in the land had always been told what to do and were followers, not leaders.  They were there only to take care of the land, they weren't making major decisions, they had no one to lead them. 

Under Zedekiah’s reign, the leaders and the priests became more and more unfaithful following the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord. And yet, our ever faithful God sends them messengers because He has pity on them and on His dwelling place.

2 Tim 2:13
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

God continues to give us chance, after chance, after chance.

God's messengers were despised, mostly their message was despised.  And in the end, after giving chance, after chance, after chance, God thrust them from His presence.