Jerusalem’s Harlotry

Ezekiel 16:15–30
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It seems that Israel devoted her beauty and blessings to other lovers, the neighboring nations and their pagan idols (vv. 15-19). She sacrificed her own children to these gods, and forgot all that the true God had done for her (vv. 20-22). She gave herself over to a series of liaisons, political alliances and mingling of faiths, with Egypt, Philistia, Assyria and Babylon (the Chaldeans). There were platforms for idol-worship, like beds, in every square and at the end of every road (vv. 23-30).

In verse. 15 we read ‘But’ and there follows a description of mankind’s total ingratitude and rebellion against his God. As God views all this, his reaction to people in sin is ‘How weak-willed you are’ (v. 30), or, as the New King James Version renders it, ‘How degenerate is your heart.’ The problem is a person’s heart. It is degenerate, weak, stubborn and rebellious.

Our sins are the evidence of our heart condition. Sin always brings pain; it appears to be enjoyable but it always ends in unhappiness. Sin brings breathlessness, an absence of the life-giving breath of the Holy Spirit. Sin renders us unable to do the things we were created for; to love and serve God. If a heart specialist told you that you had a serious heart condition, you would be a fool to ignore it. What is your reaction to God’s diagnosis of your heart? Do you take it seriously?

Application

God is a jealous God and He wants to me my first love. That is why I must never let anything crowd out my time and devotion to Him and to His Word.