“Like mother, like daughter”
Ezekiel 16
The prophet Ezekiel prophesied before and after the fall of Jerusalem. He was among those taken to Babylon. Before the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel had prophesied of the impending doom upon Jerusalem. Sometimes, Jerusalem was likened to an useless vine, and sometimes like an adulterous wife, a faithless bride. Here in Ezekiel 16, Jerusalem is likened to an adulterous wife.
Let us look at this chapter by dividing it this way:
1. Israel and God (1-14)
The LORD told Ezekiel to make known the abominations of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem had been a city before the Israelites. In Judges 19:10, we see that it was the city of the Jebusites. When the Israelites came and took the city, it came to be known as the city of David (2 Sam. 5:7, 9).
Therefore, the LORD says, “Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite” (Ezek. 16:3). At birth, she was disdained and was not pitied. But the LORD said to her, “Live” (Ezek. 16:6). As she became a woman, the LORD took her as a wife, and showered her with jewellery and clothes. He bathed her, anointed her with oil and gave her all the good things that she became famed for her beauty (Ezek. 16:6-14).
2. But (15-34)
But Jerusalem used her beauty to engage in prostitution and indulged in pagan sexual rites and prostitution. She even offered her daughters and sons to idolatrous practices. She forgot all that the LORD had done for her. The LORD said, “In all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, flailing about in your blood”(Ezek. 16:22).
She built high places to make herself more powerful, and she increased her desires. She even went to the Assyrians, Chaldeans and the Canaanites and was not satisfied (Ezek. 16:29).
She was worse than other prostitutes. She bribed others so that they would come to her; not the other way round. The LORD said, “You were different from other women in your whorings: no one solicited you to play the whore; and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; you were different” (Ezek. 16:34).
3. Therefore (35-58)
Therefore, the LORD pronounced all the things that were to come upon Jerusalem, the faithless bride. The LORD said that He will humiliate her in front of her lovers who will strip her and stone her.
The land will also become desolate and be punished with the sword which will stop her prostitution. This will then make the LORD’s anger subside (40-42).
Therefore, Jerusalem was like her mother and therefore, the proverb, ‘Like mother like daughter’ will be said about her always (Ezek. 16:44).
This means that, her behaviour runs in the family and her sisters were Samaria and Sodom. Jerusalem sinned even more than her sisters. “Samaria has not committed half your sins; you have committed more abominations than they” (Ezek. 16:51) says the LORD.
4. Yet (59-63)
Yet, even while Jerusalem sinned, the LORD’s love and faithfulness remains. The LORD said, “Yet, I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant” (Ezek. 16:60).
What a wonderful God we serve! Even when Jerusalem committed adultery, forgetting its covenant, the LORD remembers His covenant and refuses to leave. He said, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezek. 16:62).
Hallelujah!
Conclusion
What do you think of the faithless bride of the LORD? As we see in the Bible, the LORD called Abraham, Isaac; and led Jacob to Egypt. When the Israelites became enslaved, He led them out and led them through the wilderness into the land of Canaan, the promised land. The LORD did not forget the covenant He made. He always remembers and cared for His people all the time. But His people saw only hardships and wander away from Him. How sad!
But, what about us? Really, what about us?
How many times have we wandered away from the LORD seeking our own sinful desires? How many times have we committed prostitution against the LORD? How many times do we forget the LORD’s love, mercies and covenant with His people?
He is calling to us: Come back!
