Main Idea: Idolatry breaks the heart of God.
A Look at the Text:
Today’s text opens with another unusual living illustration involving the prophet Ezekiel.
He was tasked by God to shave his head and beard and to divide the hair into parts, with a third being burned, a third cut further, and a third scattered in the wind (Ez. 5:1-4). This was to symbolize the remnant of Israel that would be left after the Jerusalem siege.
At that moment, God was against His people (Ez. 5:8) because of their rebellion (Ez. 5:6, 11). In response, they would be subjected to pestilence, famine, and the sword (Ez. 5:12).
The end of the story would be an undeniable knowledge of God based upon His acts. One of the key promises found throughout the book of Ezekiel is, “And they shall know that I am the Lord (Ez. 5:13).
The Lord was jealous for His people (Ez. 5:13), and in retributive jealousy He was bringing judgment. God abhorred the idols of Israel and would cause many of His people to fall slain before those helpless idols (Ez. 6:5).
Once more, they would know that He was the Lord (Ez. 6:7). In that day, the remnant would be broken for how they had broken God (Ez. 6:9).
Bringing it Home:
God is jealous for His people with a pure jealousy.
Just as a husband has no desire to share his wife with other lovers, so the true God of heaven and earth desires no competition in the hearts of His people.
This text in Ezekiel presents the Almighty as having a breakable heart, as His heart was broken by the “whoring heart” of His people.
While we may not bow before literal idols today, we certainly fall prey to idolatry when we believe that something other than God will finally make us happy or satisfy us.
We can run after material possessions, exciting experiences, or any manner of things that suck us into the vortex of want. We can find ourselves pursuing satisfaction via things that cannot satisfy, leaving behind the One for whom we were made and the One who is the ultimate source of all true joy and meaning in life.
Let us remember that the heart of God is a heart that breaks. A heart that breaks when His people put competitors on the thrones of their own hearts. The broken heart of God should then break ours and draw us back to loving allegiance to the One who is worthy of our all.
Challenge:
Do I live aware of the fact that I can grieve God’s Holy Spirit by how I live? (Eph. 4:30).