Main Idea: Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
A Look at the Text:
Once more, today’s passage in Ezekiel comes between the initial surrender of Jerusalem and its final destruction. With this, the prophet announces God’s judgment again, using the uselessness of the wood of a vine as an example of how purposeless Israel had become (Ezek. 15:1-6).
God said His judgment would be upon them, “because they have acted faithlessly” (Ezek. 15:8). This faithlessness is then unpacked in chapter 16.
First, Israel is likened to a disdained newborn that God took pity on (Ezek. 16:1-7). Then, Israel is likened to a bride (Ezek. 16:8). A bride that prospered because of God’s love, with great beauty and splendor (Ezek. 16:14).
In both metaphors, it is abundantly clear that it was God who was the source of their blessedness. Yet tragically, God’s gifts were turned to idols (Ezek. 16:17). With graphic language, Israel’s idolatry is likened to brazen adultery (Ezek. 16:30).
In response, God would turn them over to the fruit of their ways, and they would suffer the consequences of this adultery (Ezek. 16:35-58). And yet, though they remained faithless, God was ever faithful. He would make another covenant with adulterous Israel (Ezek. 16:60).
Though they had cheated on Him countless times, He would yet atone for their sin (Ezek. 16:63).
Bringing it Home:
When idolatry is likened to harlotry, it reveals how truly awful it is. Worst of all, in the land of Judah it was actually the gifts of God that ended up being turned to idols. Rather than being rightly understood as displays of God’s generosity, they became objects of affection and worship.
We must be diligent to always know that God’s gifts are sourced in Him and, as such, rather than worshipping the gifts, we must worship and thank the Giver. Truly, every good thing in our lives is from Him (Jas. 1:17). Apart from God’s kindness, we would have nothing.
We are right to rejoice in His gifts. We are right to appreciate His gifts. We are right to even enjoy His gifts. But we must never make them objects of our devotion. The gifts of God should turn our eyes to the goodness of God and result in the glory of God as we praise Him with thanksgiving. If we view them as the end, rather than a means to the end of worship, we’ve missed it.
Challenge:
Do the good things in my life distract me from God or draw me closer to God?