Jerusalem’s Adultery
June 10, 2021
Commentary
Israel wasn’t a whore, because she paid her lovers for the privilege of their alliances (vv. 30-34). She was willing to sleep with anyone except her husband. She did not commit harlotry for payment like a prostitute. In fact she paid her lovers to come in unto her! Now God is going to expose Israel’s shame and turn her lovers into enemies (vv. 35-39). She will be destroyed by them as God’s judgment on her unfaithfulness (vv. 40-43).
Jerusalem was deserving of divine punishment. She had “poured out” her lewdness and “uncovered her nakedness.” She had been involved in harlotries with her lovers (foreign nations) and idols. She had given the blood of her sons to her idols. For these reasons God would gather all her lovers, those she had loved (the Egyptians), and those she had hated (the Chaldeans). These would come against Jerusalem from every direction. God would expose Jerusalem’s “nakedness,” her deprivation and need. Jerusalem would be as harshly punished as women who commit adultery or shed blood. She would experience a violent bloodshed such as one might experience who was punished in “wrath and jealousy” (vv. 35-38).
The executioners of the harlot would be her former lovers. They would destroy Jerusalem’s pagan shrines. They would confiscate the clothing and jewels which the harlot had misused in pagan worship. Then a “crowd,” would stone the harlot and thrust her through with swords. The daughters of the harlot (satellite cities), would be burned. “Many women” (neighboring nations), would observe this execution. No longer could she “pay her lovers” (vv. 39-41). By the execution of this sentence God’s “fury” and righteous “jealousy” would depart from his people. Once the problem of unfaithfulness had been corrected, God would be angry with his people no more. Whatever He did to them they would deserve. His justice demanded that he repay them in accordance with their sin.
Application
I pray that I will never be guilty of Spiritual adultery like Israel was in this passage.
Ezekiel 16:31– 43 (NET)
31 When you built your chamber at the head of every street and put up your pavilion in every public square, you were not like a prostitute, because you scoffed at payment.
32 “‘Adulterous wife, who prefers strangers instead of her own husband! 33 All prostitutes receive payment, but instead you give gifts to every one of your lovers. You bribe them to come to you from all around for your sexual favors! 34 You were different from other prostitutes because no one solicited you. When you gave payment and no payment was given to you, you became the opposite!
35 “‘Therefore, you prostitute, listen to the Lord’s message! 36 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness was uncovered in your prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children you have given to them, 37 therefore, take note: I am about to gather all your lovers whom you enjoyed, both all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around, and I will expose your nakedness to them, and they will see all your nakedness. 38 I will punish you as an adulteress and murderer deserves. I will avenge your bloody deeds with furious rage. 39 I will give you into their hands, and they will destroy your chambers and tear down your pavilions. They will strip you of your clothing and take your beautiful jewelry and leave you naked and bare. 40 They will summon a mob who will stone you and hack you in pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn down your houses and execute judgments on you in front of many women. Thus I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer give gifts to your clients. 42 I will exhaust my rage on you, and then my fury will turn from you. I will calm down and no longer be angry.
43 “‘Because you did not remember the days of your youth and have enraged me with all these deeds, I hereby repay you for what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Have you not engaged in prostitution on top of all your other abominable practices?
Illustration: Warning Labels
Americans are getting warned often these days. Manufactures are growing increasingly wary of being sued when their products are misused, so they are attaching warning labels to hundreds of items. For example, a Batman outfit bears this caveat: “Parents, please exercise caution-FOR PLAY ONLY. Mask and cape are not protective; cape does not enable user to fly.” (Our Daily Bread, March 20, 1998)