Ezekiel

Ezekiel 16:1-5

The Lord paints an allegory for Ezekiel to pass along to the Jews of Jerusalem that they may know her abominations.  Jerusalem is likened to a female, a young child, born of gentile parentage.  The birth and nativity is the lineage and the particular day of birth; this came about in Canaanite land by Canaanite parents.  Jerusalem belonged the Amorites and Hittites long before it belonged to Israel.  This statement would have shock value to the Jews, it wasn't something they wanted to hear or be reminded of.  The Jebusites owned Jerusalem until David conquered it (2 Sam 2:5).  When Jerusalem was born, none of the normal things were done.  It was normal for a mid-wife to but the cord, wash the child, rub salt on them and wrap them in swaddling clothes.  But there was no one there to care for her.  It was as though she were cast into an open field, discarded and unwanted.  Her only hope was that a merciful soul might wander by.  This type of infanticide was practiced in that day.  Female babies, deformed babies and unwanted children were discarded; they were left for God to bring a merciful soul to save and raise the child or die in the elements.

Ezekiel 16:6-7

The Lord is the passerby who spots this young discarded child in the field.  She is struggling to stay alive; the blood of childbirth still present.  The adoption protocol of the day was take a child while still covered with amniotic fluid and the blood of birth.  To take them was to adopt them, to in a sense say, "Live!"  He allowed her to thrive and grow and become mature.  The forming of breast and hair is a reference to puberty, to the young woman approaching marrying age.  Yet, she is naked, visible and still in the field.

Ezekiel 16:8

Now the relationship changes from a father adopting a daughter to a man taking her as his wife.  The 'time of love' means she was at the marrying age.  To cover her was to show his intent to marry her. The 'wing' of NKJV is the corner of the garment.  He swore an oath and entered into a covenant relationship with her. 

Ezekiel 16:9-14

The washing that didn't occur at birth was the initial care of Yahweh, a cleansing of the impurity and uncleanness of the past.  She was then clothed with the finest apparel from head to toe.  She was adorned as a queen.  She was beautiful and became famous for her beauty.  The Lord's splendor was bestowed on her.   She had become a queen (Lam 2:15)

Ezekiel 16:15-19

She trusted her beauty, relying on herself instead of the Lord.  She forgot where she came from.  She played the harlot.  The idolatry of Jerusalem is portrayed as the insatiable whoring of a prostitute to anyone passing by.  The multicolored high places are a reference to the multicolored bed of a prostitute.  The oil and incense meant for worship of the Lord were used to worship this phallic symbol.  The food provided by the Lord became offerings to other gods. 

Ezekiel 16:20-22

As if the idolatry wasn't enough, she took from the children and sacrificed them in the fire. Was this to be seen as 'no big deal'?  A minor offense?  In all this, she never looked back and remembered the Lord saving her from the open field, from her abandonment. 

Of course, Jerusalem isn't the matter at hand.  Jerusalem can't make decisions, nor does she have a conscience.  Jerusalem, this beauty, is symbolic of the people that lived in her, enjoyed their life there, who knew the Lord there and abandoned and rebelled against him there.

Ezekiel 16:23-30

The description just gets worse and more offensive to the Lord.  The abominations were multiplied without thought.  The shrine is a place of ritual prostitution.  High places marked the head of every road.  She offered herself to anyone and everyone.  The phrase 'you offered yourself' is a word meaning to spread her legs wide.  The scriptures don't soften shock of the language and offense the Lord intended to convey (our translations tend to).  She played the harlot to Egypt from which the people were saved; the Philistines, Assyrians and Chaldea. 

The husband's responsibility was to take action.  To stretch out his hand was to begin that judgment.  The allotment was diminished, he would no longer be responsible for her care.  She is marked as a prostitute. 

Ezekiel 16:31-34

Jerusalem's idolatry is likened to adultery or harlotry.  The Harlots would frequent public places where lots of folks were present.  They wanted to be visible to the maximum number of people to conduct their business.  Jerusalem was similar; however, unlike a prostitute, Jerusalem gave everything away and got nothing in return.  A harlot that doesn't take money isn't in business, she's another level below immoral.  She is promiscuous without boundary, with no limitation.  She's similar to an adulterous wife who invites strangers to her bed; all strangers, any strangers.  Finally, she is likened to the opposite of a harlot because she pays her lovers instead of them paying her.

Ezekiel 16:35-39

This passage speaks judicially to Jerusalem, this adulteress that broke her covenant promise.  Her 'filthiness' was poured out and 'nakedness uncovered'.  This is graphic language of the very act of prostitution and the discharges.   Her actions toward her lovers and idols would be judged for this and for sacrificing her children to these idols.  All her lovers would be gathered together, she would be humiliated in their presence.  She would be judged like an adulterer, which was a capital offense.  She would be given into the hands of her former lovers.  They would destroy her and leave her naked and bare.  This was to return her to the state in which Yahweh found her. 

Jews that heard this might have been shocked at the reference and the graphic nature of the oracle.  They were proud of Jerusalem, it was God's city, it was their religious center, it was unconquerable as far as they were concerned.  They would struggle to think of her as being a prostitute, let alone one that ended up judged, naked and bare. 

Ezekiel 16:40-43

The judgment is spoken of, on one hand like she is a prostitute, on the next as if a city.  She shall be stoned, proper action against a prostitute.  To be thrust through with a sword is more what would happen to those in the city.  The burning of house was to get rid of the unclean abominations.  The harlot would be put out of business.  God's fury and wrath would be played out on Jerusalem.  She was like this young woman who forgot where she came from, who helped her, who loved her.  Her deeds would be turned back on her in judgment. 

Ezekiel 16:44-47

"Like mother, like daughter!"  We've heard that proverb before.  Jerusalem is likened to her mother.  She is the daughter of her mother, a Hittite.  Jerusalem was originally built and inhabited by the Hittites and Amorites.  We can imagine why the Canaanite's were idol worshipers; but the daughter, Jerusalem of Judah, should know better. 

The capital of Israel, the northern Kingdom was Samaria, was like a sister.  Samaria was always about idol worship from the very beginning.  Sodom is portrayed as another sister to the south.  She also was idolatrous.  Jerusalem was like her mom and like her sisters in some ways.  But it was as if their ways were too little and she became more corrupt than all of them.   

Ezekiel 16:48-52

The sins of Sodom were bad.  They are detailed as pride, gluttony, idleness in responsibility and abandonment of the poor and needy.  As bad as she was, she was not as bad as Jerusalem.  She should have known better. 

Samaria didn't commit half the sins that Jerusalem committed.  Jerusalem is portrayed as justifying Samaria because she was so bad.  It's as if they were graded on the curve.  Jerusalem just set a new low making Samaria look a lot less guilty. 

Ezekiel 16:53-59

Jerusalem would be dealt with like Sodom and like Samaria.  Jerusalem would become a byword, an example of idolatry and immorality.  She did not look on Sodom and Samaria as an example of wickedness when she had despised the things of the Lord.  She had no eyes to see this and joined in similar activity leading to her downfall.  With the judgment was the future hope of resurrection.

Ezekiel 16:60-63

In spite of all the wickedness and idolatry, in spite of the lewdness and abominations, the Lord, in His goodness will remember His covenant.  In verse 8 He swore a covenant over her.  Then, she will also remember and be ashamed.  The focal point of this restoration is not Jerusalem, but the Lord who provides atonement, redemption and restoration.  It is a beautiful act of grace.  Jerusalem's existence will always testify that He is Lord.

©2019 Doug Ford