Brethren, my heart\u2019s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.
\nRomans 10:1<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n
This study of Israel portrayed as the Wife of Jehovah can be divided into seven divisions: Jerusalem, the abandoned child, the marriage, the great adultery, the punishment of Israel, the comparison to Sodom and Samaria, the restoration of Sodom and Samaria, and the remarriage of Israel.<\/p>\n
I. JERUSALEM, THE ABANDONED CHILD\u2014EZEKIEL 16:1\u20135<\/p>\n
The Word of Jehovah came to Ezekiel in verse 1: Again the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying.<\/p>\n
Because it describes the husband and wife relationship, this chapter is very sexually graphic. It is so graphic that the rabbis said that it must not be read or translated in public. However, since it is the word of Jehovah, it needs to be expounded upon just like any other part of Scripture.<\/p>\n
The purpose of this allegory is given in verse 2: Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.<\/p>\n
The use of the term Son of man emphasizes man in his human frailty and weakness in contrast to God. It is used only one time outside the Book of Ezekiel, in Daniel 8:17. This term is not used as a messianic title in the Old Testament. When it is used of the Messiah in the New Testament, it emphasizes His Humanity. The purpose of this allegory is to cause Jerusalem to know her abominations. The woman in this chapter represents Jerusalem, and Jerusalem represents the nation, the Jewish people as a whole.<\/p>\n
The circumstances of Israel\u2019s birth are described in verses 3 through 5. Jerusalem\u2019s parents are identified in verse 3: and say, Thus says the Lord Jehovah unto Jerusalem: Your birth and your nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite.<\/p>\n
The origin of the City of Jerusalem was the land of the Canaanite. The term land of the Canaanite emphasizes a moral facet as well as a physical one. If God had simply said, \u201cthe land of Canaan,\u201d He would be expressing only locality, but the fact that He said: the land of the Canaanite, emphasized that she was brought forth in a context of immorality. By way of genealogy, Ezekiel points out that Jerusalem\u2019s father was an Amorite and her mother was a Hittite. The Amorite origins are found in Genesis 10:16; 15:16; Numbers 13:29; Joshua 5:1; 7:7; 10:5; 24:15, 18; and Amos 2:10. The Hittite origins are found in Genesis 15:20; Numbers 13:29; and Joshua 1:4. Pointing out the Hittite and Amorite origins emphasizes the immoral nature of Jerusalem\u2019s nativity.<\/p>\n
The fact that she was abandoned at the point of birth is revealed in verse 4: And as for your nativity, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel states four things concerning the day of Jerusalem\u2019s birth. First, your navel was not cut. If the umbilical cord is not cut, the baby will die when the placenta ceases to function. Her umbilical cord was not cut at the time that God found her. Secondly, neither were you washed in water to cleanse you. Water was used to wash the newborn child of all impurities. Thirdly, you were not salted at all. In the Middle East, salt was applied to the skin of a newborn baby to make the skin drier and firmer, which resulted in an even more thorough cleansing. The virtue of salt as a protection against putrefaction is a common theme in Scripture. Fourthly, nor swaddled at all, it was not wrapped up; she was simply left to die as many females babies were.<\/p>\n
The baby was abandoned to die without mercy in verse 5: No eye pitied you, to do any of these things unto you, to have compassion upon you; but you were cast out in the open field, for that your person was abhorred, in the day that you were born.<\/p>\n
No one had compassion on her. Instead, when the babe was born, she was exposed out in the open field; everybody was waiting her to die.<\/p>\n
For Jerusalem, the application to Jewish history refers to the pre-Patriarchal period, but for the nation, it is the Patriarchal Period.<\/p>\n
II. THE MARRIAGE\u2014EZEKIEL 16:6\u201314<\/p>\n
The second division can be sub-divided into three units: the first passing by, the second passing by, and the beautification of Israel.<\/p>\n
A. The First Passing by\u2014Ezekiel 16:6\u20137<\/p>\n
When God found her, the state of the babe was that of being exposed in the field and waiting for death in verse 6: And when I passed by you, and saw you weltering in your blood, I said unto you, Though you are in your blood, live; yea, I said unto you, Though you are in your blood, live.<\/p>\n
The first time God passed by, it meant the saving of life. When God saw Israel weltering in her blood, He issued a very emphatic decree: I said unto you, Though you are in your blood, live; yea, I said unto you, Though you are in your blood, live. God decreed that Israel, the child, should survive.<\/p>\n
Historically, this is the Patriarchal period. When God said live, it was the days of Joseph; by the end of the story of Joseph, the nation had survived. Therefore, God preserved Israel by means of Joseph.<\/p>\n
Then the babe began to grow and to develop in verse 7: I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you did increase and wax great, and you attained to excellent ornament; your breasts were fashioned, and your hair was grown; yet you were naked and bare.<\/p>\n
Verse 7a refers to the multiplication of Israel in the land of Egypt (Ex. 1:7; Acts 7:17). The expression \u201cto grow in the field\u201d meant she was wild, but flourishing. Furthermore, this led to Israel\u2019s exaltation in verse 7b: you did increase and wax great. Israel, as a girl, began to develop beauty. God says: you attained to excellent ornament. This is more emphatic in Hebrew: \u201cornament of ornaments.\u201d In verse 7c, she developed into maturity: your breasts were fashioned, and your hair was grown, making her eligible for marriage. In spite of this, she was naked and bare, meaning \u201cpoor,\u201d \u201cwithout wealth.\u201d As slaves in Egypt, she had no culture; she had no civilization.<\/p>\n
This verse describes the period of Israel\u2019s history between the death of Joseph and the time of Moses, when she was developing, maturing, multiplying, and yet enslaved and in poverty.<\/p>\n
B. The Second Passing by\u2014Ezekiel 16:8<\/p>\n
Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yea, I swore unto you, and entered into a covenant with you, said the Lord Jehovah, and you became mine.<\/p>\n
The second time God passed by Israel, He noticed her maturity. God said: I looked upon you. He began to notice Israel in a unique way, in a way that He had not looked at her before. Then He said to her: behold, your time was the time of love. Of the various Hebrew words for love, this one refers to \u201csexual love,\u201d \u201cthe love of an intimate relationship.\u201d God said to her: I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness; this was the ancient way of espousal and marriage. With this action, God and Israel became husband and wife. He states: yea, I swore unto you, and entered into a covenant with you, said the Lord Jehovah. The covenant mentioned here is the Mosaic Covenant made at Mount Sinai, which is often pictured as a marriage covenant (Ex. 24:8; Deut. 5:2). Finally, God said to Israel: you became mine. Israel became Jehovah\u2019s wife.<\/p>\n
Historically, this is the time of the Exodus experience. The background is Exodus 2:24\u201325, where God decreed to rescue Israel from Egypt, and 19:5\u20136. The prophets also looked upon this as a marriage covenant in Jeremiah 2:2; 3:1\u201318; and Hosea 1:1\u20133:5.<\/p>\n
C. The Beautification and Exaltation of Israel\u2014Ezekiel 16:9\u201314<\/p>\n
Following the marriage between Israel and God, came the beautification and the exaltation of Israel as the Wife of Jehovah. This was done in various ways. First came the washing in verse 9: Then washed I you with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.<\/p>\n
She was washed with water; the blood that came from slavery was washed away, and she was anointed with oil in preparation for marriage. Israel\u2019s washing was from her sins (Ex. 19:10).<\/p>\n
Next came Israel\u2019s wedding garments in verse 10: I clothed you also with broidered work, and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk.<\/p>\n
The sealskin refers to the sea cow, which is common in the Red Sea to this day. This is also one of the coverings of the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:5). So the beautification of Israel came through the worship of the Tabernacle. Furthermore, God stated: I girded you with fine linen, and covered you with silk. This was the costliest of materials, worthy of a princess, because she was now queen in light of the fact that she was married to the King.<\/p>\n
The bridal gifts of jewelry are described in verses 11\u201312: And I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring upon your nose, and ear rings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.<\/p>\n
Concerning her jewelry, she was decked with bracelets, a chain, a nose ring, ear rings, and a beautiful crown. These are the marriage gifts or the bridal jewelry (Gen. 24:47; Hos. 2:13).<\/p>\n
The historical fulfillment of this beautification of Israel was during the kingdoms of David and Solomon, when all of these things were literally brought into the Land of Israel (1 Kg. 10:1\u201329; Lam. 2:15).<\/p>\n
Her wealth is described in verses 13\u201314: Thus were you decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper unto royal estate. And your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put upon you, said the Lord Jehovah.<\/p>\n
In verse 13, Israel was decked with gold and silver; her clothing was fine linen, and silk, and broidered work, which made her exceptionally beautiful; her food was fine flour, and honey, and oil. These are things that her husband gave to her (Hos. 2:8). Furthermore, she became extremely wealthy and achieved empire status. In verse 14, because of her beauty, her reputation spread throughout the world, for God\u2019s majesty was put upon Israel.<\/p>\n
The historical background was the empire status of the kingdoms of David and Solomon.<\/p>\n
III. THE GREAT ADULTERY\u2014EZEKIEL 16:15\u201334<\/p>\n
However, Israel became guilty of great spiritual adultery through idolatry. This third division can be sub divided into three smaller units: the origin and nature of Israel\u2019s adultery, the extent and magnitude of her adultery, and the degree of degradation.<\/p>\n
A. The Origin and Nature of Israel\u2019s Adultery\u2014Idolatry\u2014Ezekiel 16:15\u201322<\/p>\n
1. The Origin of Her Idolatry\u2014Ezekiel 16:15\u201319<\/p>\n
The origin of Israel\u2019s spiritual adultery is revealed in verse 15: But you did trust in your beauty, and played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your whoredoms on every one that passed by; his it was.<\/p>\n
The basis upon which she became this bold was that she trusted in her beauty, forgetting entirely that she was only beautified because of what God had done for her. It was not natural to her; God had made her beautiful. Her beauty led her to think that she did not need to trust in her husband anymore; that her beauty would get her through any situation. So she began to act as a prostitute. Israel\u2019s spiritual adultery through idolatry is the same point made by Jeremiah 3:2.<\/p>\n
The payments she had to make for these adulterous relationships are described in verses 16\u201319: And you did take of your garments, and made for you high places decked with divers colors, and played the harlot upon them: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. You did also take your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for you images of men, and did play the harlot with them; and you took your broidered garments, and covered them, and did set mine oil and mine incense before them. My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed you, you did even set it before them for a sweet savor; and thus it was, said the Lord Jehovah.<\/p>\n
All the wedding gifts that God had given to her were used to pay her lovers: in verse 16, her garments; in verse 17, her fair jewels; in verse 18, her broidered garments; in verse 19, the oil, incense, the bread, fine flour, oil and honey. God said that all of the things that were used to worship idols were His: my gold, my silver, mine oil, mine incense, My bread.<\/p>\n
2. The Nature of Her Idolatry\u2014Ezekiel 16:20\u201321<\/p>\n
Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne unto me, and these have you sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were your whoredoms a small matter, that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire unto them?<\/p>\n
As if all these things were not bad enough, she went even further into idolatry by practicing human sacrifices. Israel\u2019s responsibility was to raise up a godly seed (Deut. 6). They were to be taught spiritual truth about Jehovah the God of Israel. Some of the worship of idols required the sacrifice of humans. So the children she bore, which were meant to be dedicated to the God of Israel, were instead burned to death, sacrificed to these foreign gods. This became a common practice in the closing days of the Judean Kingdom, found in 2 Kings 16:3; 21:6; 23:10. Jeremiah mentions it three times: Jeremiah 7:31: 19:5; and 32:35.<\/p>\n
3. The Result of Her Idolatry\u2014Ezekiel 16:22<\/p>\n
And in all your abominations and your whoredoms you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were weltering in your blood.<\/p>\n
The result was that Israel forgot her past. In all her abominations and her adulteries, she forgot how her husband had rescued her in the days of her youth, when she was naked and bare, weltering in her blood and dying.<\/p>\n
B. The Extent and the Magnitude of the Adultery-Political Alliances\u2014Ezekiel 16:23\u201329<\/p>\n
The extent and magnitude of Israel\u2019s great adultery involved not only religious alliances with pagan nations, but political alliances as well. This is emphasized in verses 23\u201325: And it is come to pass after all your wickedness, (woe, woe unto you! says the Lord Jehovah,) that you have built unto you a vaulted place, and have made you a lofty place in every street. You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied your whoredom.<\/p>\n
Because of Israel\u2019s idolatry, two woes are pronounced upon her in verse 23. In verse 24, Israel built a vaulted place in every street, meaning she built small shrines to foreign gods at the end of every street, on rooftops, and everywhere. In verse 25, by worshipping these foreign gods, she was guilty of playing the harlot in these lofty places, and she had made her beauty an abomination. Furthermore, she was guilty of exposing herself to every one that passed by. Thus she continued to multiply her adulteries and her prostitution even further.<\/p>\n
Verses 26\u201329 speak of her political alliances. First, she made a political alliance with Egypt in verses 26\u201327: You have also committed fornication with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your whoredom, to provoke me to anger. Behold therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your ordinary food, and delivered you unto the will of them that hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, that are ashamed of your lewd way.<\/p>\n
According to verse 26, this was adultery because it also involved the worship of Egyptian gods. The expression great of flesh means \u201cexcessive sensuality. The reason that she did this was to provoke God to anger. In verse 27, God states: I have stretched out my hand over you; He had diminished her ordinary food, meaning \u201cmaterial possessions.\u201d In the original marriage contract, these things are promised in abundance in return for Israel\u2019s obedience. But because of her disobedience, the land became unproductive. She lost her empire status and the exact holdings of the nation began to decrease as a result of pressure from surrounding countries, especially the Syrians and the Philistines. The Philistines are mentioned in conjunction with Egypt because they were allied with Egypt. God will use the Philistines to punish Israel. As immoral as the Philistine women were, Israel\u2019s immorality shamed the daughters of the Philistines even more. The fulfillment of this is found in 2 Chronicles 28:18.<\/p>\n
The second nation she was guilty of making alliances with was Assyria in verse 28: You have played the harlot also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yea, you have played the harlot with them, and yet you were not satisfied.<\/p>\n
The political alliance with Assyria meant the worship of the Assyrian gods. Even this alliance failed to satisfy her.<\/p>\n
Finally, she was also guilty of making alliances with Chaldea in verse 29: You have moreover multiplied your whoredom unto the land of traffic, unto Chaldea; and yet you were not satisfied herewith.<\/p>\n
This was Babylon, where idolatry originated. Alliances with Chaldea meant worshipping the gods of the Chaldeans. So she went deeper and deeper into spiritual adultery by means of idolatry, and never seemed to be satisfied.<\/p>\n
C. The Degree of Degradation\u2014Ezekiel 16:30\u201334<\/p>\n
The degree of degradation of Israel\u2019s prostitution is emphasized in verses 30\u201331: How weak is your heart, says the Lord Jehovah, seeing you do all these things, the work of an impudent harlot; in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a harlot, in that you scorn hire.<\/p>\n
According to verse 30, because of the weakness of heart, she was not willing and not able to stay faithful to her husband, the God of Israel. She was referred to as an impudent harlot. In verse 31, the nature of her idolatry was that she built little shrines in every place at the head of every corner. She was a different type of prostitute in that prostitutes were usually paid for their services. Israel received no payment; in fact, she would pay others to commit adultery with her.<\/p>\n
She was declared to be an adulterous wife in verse 32: A wife that commits adultery! that takes strangers instead of her husband!<\/p>\n
She was one who chose strangers in place of her true husband. This was an extreme statement of disdain and disgust.<\/p>\n
The unique nature of her prostitution was emphasized again in verses 33\u201334: They give gifts to all harlots; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come unto you on every side for your whoredoms. And you are different from other women in your whoredoms, in that none follows you to play the harlot; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given unto you, therefore you are different.<\/p>\n
Normally, prostitutes received gifts for their services, but not Israel! In verse 33, she bribed others to commit adultery with her. By the worship of idolatry, Israel was giving goods to those gods instead of receiving gifts from her own God. Because they were not gods, they gave Israel nothing in return. In verse 34, no one followed Israel\u2019s example of being a prostitute who pays her lovers, instead of a prostitute who receives payment for her services.<\/p>\n
IV. THE PUNISHMENT OF ISRAEL\u2014EZEKIEL 16:35\u201343<\/p>\n
Ezekiel has been describing the history of Israel up until his day. In the fourth division of this study, God declares what is about to happen because Israel failed to respond to the discipline she had already received. Verse 35 states: Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of Jehovah.<\/p>\n
The course of the judgment is stated in verse 36: Thus says the Lord Jehovah, Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your whoredoms with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you did give unto them.<\/p>\n
Four reasons are given for this punishment: first: her filthiness was poured out; secondly, her nakedness was uncovered or revealed; thirdly, specifically, all the idols of her abominations; and fourthly, because of the blood of her children, who had been offered to these idols. There is absolutely no doubt about her punishment: Israel\u2019s punishment will correspond to her sin.<\/p>\n
Then, Ezekiel spelled out the means of punishment in verse 37: therefore behold, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all them that you have loved, with all them that you have hated; I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness unto them, that they may see all your nakedness.<\/p>\n
The lovers with whom Israel had committed spiritual adultery, these very nations whose gods Israel worshipped, would be used to punish her. Since Israel committed adultery with the gods of the Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Assyrians, God would use those nations to destroy and punish her. This would prove that these other gods were worthless in helping her. The failure of all her friends is found in Lamentations 1:1\u20132 and Hosea 2:10.<\/p>\n
The nature of her punishment is given in verse 38: And I will judge you, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. Because she was an adulteress and a murderess, she was to be punished as an adulteress and a murderess. This is in keeping with Deuteronomy: if Israel commits adultery against God, His jealousy will burn against her.<\/p>\n
Verses 39\u201341a describe four stages of the punishment itself: I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places; and they shall strip you of your clothes, and take your fair jewels; and they shall leave you naked and bare. They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords. And they shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments upon you in the sight of many women.<\/p>\n
First, in verse 39a, it will include the destruction of all the idolatrous centers that Israel had set up for her lovers of verse 37. Secondly, in verse 39b, she would be left naked and bare she would be stripped naked of all the good things that God had given her; she will be reduced to the state in which God found her. This was standard punishment for someone guilty of adultery. Thirdly, in verse 40, her execution will come by stoning and the sword. Fourthly, in verse 41a, her houses will be burned in the sight of many women. All of these punishments are in keeping with the Mosaic Law on adultery and idolatry (Lev. 20:14; 21:9).<\/p>\n
Two categories of results are given in verses 41b\u201342: and I will cause you to cease from playing the harlot, and you shall also give no hire any more. So will I cause my wrath toward you to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from you, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.<\/p>\n
First, in verse 41b, the results for the wife are that God will cause her to cease from playing the harlot. Because all her material goods will be stripped away from her, she will no longer have anything to pay anyone; her beauty disappears in the course of time. The second category concerns the results for her husband in verse 42: His wrath toward her will finally come to rest; His burning jealousy will finally burn itself out in the punishment, and He will become quiet. Once the judgment is spent, the punishment is over.<\/p>\n
The previous verses are summarized by verse 43: Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring your way upon your head, says the Lord Jehovah: and you shall not commit this lewdness with all your abominations.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel makes two points here. First, concerning Israel\u2019s sin, she has not remembered the days of her youth and has raged against her husband. Secondly, concerning God\u2019s punishment. The punishment has been perfectly just. The final result will be that Israel will finally stop sinning.<\/p>\n
V. THE COMPARISON TO SODOM AND SAMARIA\u2014EZEKIEL 16:44\u201352<\/p>\n
It must be remembered that chapter 16 is an allegory and switches back and forth between the nation and the City of Jerusalem. By the time this prophecy was given, Sodom and Samaria had been destroyed by divine judgment because of their sins. Sodom was destroyed directly by God when He rained fire and brimstone upon it (Gen. 15\u201320). Samaria was destroyed by God by means of the Assyrian army (2 Kg. 17). One would not think that Jerusalem could ever be as bad as these two cities, but according to this division, she actually became worse!<\/p>\n
A. The Application of a Proverb\u2014Ezekiel 16:44\u201347<\/p>\n
Ezekiel introduces a proverb in verse 44: Behold, every one that use proverbs shall use this proverb against you, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel says that a day will come when everyone will use this proverb against Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
The meaning of the proverb is spelled out in verses 45\u201346, dealing with the origins of Jerusalem\u2019s family: You are the daughter of your mother, that loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children: your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite. And your elder sister is Samaria, that dwells at your left hand, she and her daughters; and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.<\/p>\n
First, in verse 45a, there is a reflection of a family trait. In other words, what was true of Jerusalem\u2019s mother and of her sisters is also true of Jerusalem herself. In verse 45b, he states: your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite. Both of these peoples were infamous for their immoralities. Jerusalem had followed the sins of her father and mother.<\/p>\n
In verse 46, God will no longer compare Jerusalem with the mother and the father, He will now compare Jerusalem with her sisters: Samaria and Sodom. Her elder sister was Samaria, that dwells at your left hand. This means that Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom, was north of Jerusalem. When one gives directions today, one thinks in terms of facing north. When the ancients gave directions, they always thought in terms of facing east. When one is facing east from Jerusalem, one\u2019s left hand is toward the north. Samaria was on the left, north of Jerusalem. The term elder does not mean she was older, because chronologically Samaria was built later than Jerusalem. Samaria did become a much larger city than Jerusalem, so she was \u201colder\u201d in the sense of being larger than Jerusalem. The expression her daughters refers to the villages and the minor towns surrounding the main city. The younger sister was Sodom, at your right hand. When one faces east, one\u2019s right side is toward the south. Sodom was south of Jerusalem. Sodom was younger than Jerusalem in the sense of being smaller.<\/p>\n
He begins with a general comparison, starting with a negative, then a positive comparison in verse 47: Yet have you not walked in their ways, nor done after their abominations; but, as if that were a very little thing, you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.<\/p>\n
The negative comparison is that, in one sense, she did not follow them. The positive comparison is that she was more corrupt in all her ways. So, the negative is not really a compliment. Negatively, Jerusalem did not follow the sins of Sodom and Samaria, but positively, she did a lot worse than they did.<\/p>\n
B. The Comparison to Sodom\u2014Ezekiel 16:48\u201350<\/p>\n
After the general comparison, God gives some specifics. The first comparison is with Sodom, in verse 48: As I live, says the Lord Jehovah, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters. Even though Sodom was her sister, yet Sodom did not sin as greatly as Jerusalem did.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel enumerates the sins of Sodom in verses 49\u201350: Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.<\/p>\n
First, she developed pride toward God. Secondly, fulness of bread; she became prosperous; she developed a sinful attitude with her prosperity. Thirdly, there was prosperous ease in her; she developed a sense of false security. Fourthly, she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy; she did not use her wealth to benefit those who were poor. Fifth, they were haughty; there was pride toward men. Sixth, they committed abomination before God, in that they were guilty of two key sins: idolatry and homosexuality. So because of these sins, God judged and destroyed Sodom. Yet Jerusalem now has proven to be even more guilty than Sodom, because she had more revelation. This is the same point made by Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 11:23\u201324.<\/p>\n
C. The Comparison to Samaria\u2014Ezekiel 16:51\u201352<\/p>\n
The second comparison is with Samaria in verse 51a: Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel declares that Samaria had not committed half the sins that Jerusalem had committed. Because she received greater revelation, Jerusalem is indeed without excuse. If God judged and destroyed Sodom and Samaria for lesser sins, could He leave Jerusalem unpunished? In no way! The righteousness of God demands appropriate punishment for sin.<\/p>\n
Next, he spells out the indictment against Jerusalem in verses 51b\u201352: but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done. You also, bear you your own shame, in that you have given judgment for your sisters; through your sins that you have committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous that you: yea, be you also confounded, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.<\/p>\n
Because Jerusalem was guilty of a lot more idolatries than either Samaria or Sodom, she earned the greater punishment. So in that sense, Jerusalem had justified her sisters. By of the depth of the sins of Jerusalem, she made Sodom and Samaria look \u201cinnocent.\u201d This was to be her shame. If God punished Sodom and Samaria for lesser sins, He would certainly punish Jerusalem for far greater sins.<\/p>\n
VI. THE RESTORATION OF SODOM AND SAMARIA\u2014EZEKIEL 16:53\u201359<\/p>\n
In this division, God prophesies a future restoration of both Sodom and Samaria. After all, He has already predicted a future restoration for Jerusalem even though Jerusalem is guilty of greater sins. If God will destroy and restore Jerusalem in spite of greater sin, He will also restore Sodom and Samaria. Therefore, we have the return of Sodom and Samaria in verses 53\u201355: And I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives in the midst of them; that you may bear your own shame, and may be ashamed because of all that you have done, in that you are a comfort unto them. And your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate; and you and your daughters shall return to your former estate.<\/p>\n
Verse 53 promises that a day is coming when all three: Sodom and her daughters, Samaria and her daughters, and Jerusalem and her daughters will come back from their captivity and from their destruction. In verse 54, when they are restored, Jerusalem will bear her shame indeed. Because Jerusalem was guilty of greater sin than Sodom and Samaria, if God is going to restore Jerusalem, which He will do, He will certainly restore Sodom and Samaria as well.<\/p>\n
In verse 55, all of them will return to their possessions. Sodom will return to her former estate. In the Messianic Kingdom, there will be a city known as Sodom. Sodom will be restored to her former glory. She will become as beautiful as she was before; this is what attracted Lot to settle there. Samaria will also be restored, and there will be a city of Samaria in the Messianic Kingdom. Of course, Jerusalem will also be restored, and there will be a City of Jerusalem in the Messianic Kingdom as well.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel again points out the wickedness of Jerusalem in verses 56\u201358. The innocence of Sodom in comparison to Jerusalem is brought out in verses 56\u201357: For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, that do despite unto you round about.<\/p>\n
Verse 56 states that Sodom was not even mentioned when Jerusalem was in her past glory because of the contempt for Sodom\u2019s evil reputation. But the sin of the pride of Sodom became the sin of the pride of Jerusalem. In verse 57, Jerusalem\u2019s wickedness is now to be uncovered or revealed. Jerusalem could pridefully speak of Sodom\u2019s sin in the past, but no longer, because now she is guilty of greater sin.<\/p>\n
Jerusalem\u2019s sins are spelled out in more detail in verse 58: You have borne your lewdness and your abominations, says Jehovah.<\/p>\n
Finally, Jerusalem is guilty of breaking the marriage covenant in verse 59: For thus says the Lord Jehovah: I will also deal with you as you have done, who has despised the oath in breaking the covenant.<\/p>\n
This is a reference to the Mosaic Covenant, which is considered to be a marriage covenant between God and Israel. Because she broke the marriage covenant, she must therefore suffer the punishment of one who breaks the marriage covenant. Although adultery itself is wrong, other nations were not accused of committing spiritual adultery by worshipping idols, because they were not married to Jehovah.<\/p>\n
VII. THE REMARRIAGE OF ISRAEL\u2014EZEKIEL 16:60\u201363<\/p>\n
In the past, Israel was once married to Jehovah, but is presently divorced and in the period of punishment. However, this passage gives a basis for a future remarriage in verse 60: Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish unto you an everlasting covenant.<\/p>\n
In the opening phrase, God states: I will remember my covenant. This is a very emphatic statement. The word covenant refers to the Mosaic Covenant that prophesied a future restoration (Lev. 26). This is the basis for the first marriage. The phrase \u201cthe days of her youth\u201d refers to the Wilderness Wanderings. However, God will not reestablish the Mosaic Covenant, rather, He will establish an everlasting covenant, the New Covenant, found in Jeremiah 31:31\u201334. This is the basis for the remarriage. It will be everlasting because it will be eternal, rather than temporary, as the Mosaic Covenant was.<\/p>\n
This will come at the time of Israel\u2019s repentance according to verse 61: Then shall you remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you shall receive your sisters, your elder sisters and your younger; and I will give them unto you for daughters, but not by your covenant.<\/p>\n
A day will come when Israel will remember her sins of adultery, and be ashamed. This shame will cause her to repent. When she repents, she will then receive her two sisters, Sodom and Samaria, and they will become her possessions. In the Kingdom, Jerusalem will be the queen city of the entire world; she will own the land, which would include exercising ownership over the two cities of Sodom and Samaria. But it will not be \u201caccording to her covenant,\u201d the Mosaic Covenant, the old one, it will be on the basis of the future covenant, the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
Ezekiel deals with the establishment of that very covenant in verses 62\u201363: And I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall know that I am Jehovah; that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more, because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done, says the Lord Jehovah.<\/p>\n
In verse 62a, again God emphatically states: I will establish my covenant with you. This is the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31\u201334. This is something only God can do. In verses 62b\u201363a, when this covenant is made, there will be four results: first, they will know who Jehovah is; secondly, they will remember their past sins; thirdly, they will be confounded; and fourthly, because of their shame, they will never open their mouths any more for the purpose of boasting. Finally, in verse 63b, He gives the timing and the basis of this covenant: when I have forgiven you all that you have done. In other words, the New Covenant includes the forgiveness of all of Israel\u2019s sins. Israel will undergo a national salvation, and because of this national salvation Israel will be restored. A day is coming when Jerusalem will become the leading city, owning the other restored cities, such as Sodom and Samaria. So, whereas Israel has proven unfaithful in the past and is presently a divorced wife, there is to be a future remarriage and a future restoration for which everyone can praise the Lord. Today, individual Jews are coming to the Lord; some day the whole nation will follow as well.<\/p>\n
This long allegory has dealt with Israel\u2019s past, present, and future. At this point in history, Israel is in the punishment stage. This is known as the Times of the Gentiles, which began with Babylon and will continue until the nation of Israel, as a nation, is saved. It includes A.D. 70 and everything that has happened to the Jewish people since. Eventually, the restoration and remarriage stage will come. This is the message of chapter 16 of the Book of Ezekiel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Brethren, my heart\u2019s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. Romans 10:1 INTRODUCTION This study of Israel portrayed as the Wife of Jehovah can be divided into seven divisions: Jerusalem, the abandoned child, the marriage, the great adultery, the punishment of Israel, the comparison to Sodom and Samaria, … <\/p>\n