Ezekiel 16:15–34

And what was the return? "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown." It is a sorrowful picture, and not more sad than true. The beauty of Jerusalem was for every passer-by… The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem was beyond anything that had been or was to be. And this is what marked it: every one of the countless favours of her divine husband — for that is what her Maker was to her — she wasted on the filthy idols of the nations.

This word often has in the Old Testament a symbolic reference to the turning from God to idols: 2 Chronicles 21:11, 13; Isaiah 23:17; Ezekiel 16:15, 26, 29. In the New Testament it refers to unfaithful association with Babylon, the mother of harlots: Revelation 14:8; 17:2, 4; 18:3, 9.

When we weigh what relationship with God means, it matters greatly to grasp this divine truth: Israel stood as the married wife of Jehovah (Jeremiah 2; Ezekiel 16)… So the specific form of Israel's unfaithfulness was adultery, as we hear so often in the prophets. It is not so in Christendom, whose grievous corruption appears under the figure of a great harlot, not an adulteress. (Revelation 17.)

The story of Israel's failure comes next. Sadly, all her privilege and all her wealth of blessing became for her only the means of a deeper and more fatal downfall. Here the root of it comes out: their self-confidence. How possible it is that those who owe all they have to grace alone should still show self-confidence! We may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges that only God's grace could have given us. So we take the glory that is His due and dress ourselves with it! And how fast pride can darken the sunshine of God's grace. God dwells with the humble and contrite spirit, and He sees the proud from far off. It is the necessity of His nature.

Such is the deceitfulness of the heart, we are prone to turn the highest favours which God bestows into self-exaltation… He is little exercised in his own soul who has not detected the subtlety of his own heart, to be proud of any distinguishing grace which the Lord has given him. "Your renown went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendour that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God, but you trusted in your own beauty."

When another person falls, it naturally leads us to thank God that we are not like other men. It should instead show us that we only stand by faith, and that if we become proud we shall fall. The moment we think we are something, we only deceive ourselves. We forget that grace alone makes us different. Then, like Jerusalem, we stop looking at the perfect beauty God has put on us and trust in our own beauty instead (Ezekiel 16:14-15). When that happens, we lose sight of the real dignity of our standing.

And what was the return? "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown." It is a sad picture, and every bit as true as it is sad. The beauty of Jerusalem was for every passer-by. "And of your garments you took and made for yourself high places with various colours." [Or patches, as the prophet's word may mean. He says it in contempt of the hangings the Jewish women wove for heathen gods and goddesses, Astarte in particular.] The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem was beyond anything that had been or was to be. And this was its mark. Every one of the countless favours of her divine husband — her Maker was exactly that to her — she squandered on the filthy idols of the heathen.

The story of Israel's failure comes next. Sadly, all her privilege and all her wealth of blessing became for her only the means of a deeper and more fatal fall. The root of it all was their self-confidence. How easily self-confidence still shows itself in people who owe all they have to grace alone! And we may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges that only God's grace could have given us. We take the glory that is His due and dress ourselves with it!

In Israel, departure from God took the outward form of making "high places." It was only a heathen habit. It played on the imagination with a worship that has no heart in it. Men still try to satisfy themselves in the same way — with music, architecture, drapery, and that most typical "dim religious light" — and in it they worship a God who is Light itself, and in whom there is no darkness. Such things work on nature. They produce a feeling that is widely taken for the reality it lacks. So on the mountain-tops man could imagine himself nearer to God than in the valleys… There is indeed a witness to God in all these things; who would want to deny it? Yet it is just here that man so often makes the fatal mistake. He puts what is merely natural in the place of what is spiritual, and so deceives himself.

When someone else falls, our first instinct is to thank God that we are not like other men. It should instead show us that we stand only by faith. If we become proud, we shall fall. The moment we think ourselves to be something, we only deceive ourselves. We forget that grace alone makes us different. Like Jerusalem, instead of looking at the perfect beauty God has put on us, we trust in our own beauty.

In reading Ezekiel 16, remember that the subject is Jerusalem, and not Israel… He had given life to what was in misery and had no beauty. He had cleansed it, adorned it and anointed it. But Jerusalem had used all that Jehovah gave her in the service of her idols… So she was to be judged as an adulterous woman. Jehovah would bring against her the very ones she had sought… Jerusalem is justly condemned and humbled, and yet God will act in full grace towards her. He will re-establish her, remembering His love and His covenant.

Jerusalem's unclean idol worship went beyond anything before it or after it. And this is what marked it: she squandered all the countless favours of her divine husband on the filthy idols of the nations. Her Maker was her husband.

"I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver… And your renown went out among the nations for your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendour that I had put on you, says the Lord God." (Ezek. 16)

Next comes the story of Israel's failure. Sadly, all her privilege and wealth of blessing became only one thing for her: the means of a deeper and more fatal downfall. It is traced here to its root — to their self-confidence. Even those who owe everything to grace alone can still be full of self-confidence! And we may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges only God's grace could have given us. We take the glory that belongs to God and dress ourselves with it.

The corrupt Church has done the same. Out of her silver and gold she has made what is spoken of right here, the "image of men" — men not as they are, but as she would have them. The result is sham Christians made by ritual, decorated with spiritual blessings dragged down to their lowest. But wherever the heart departs from God, it will decorate what it seeks with imaginations of its own. It conjures up wild visions that only show it has lost all good sense. The false becomes the true, and so the true becomes the false.

A people mad about their idols sacrificed the children truly born to God among Israel — the remnant He owned as His… If we had eyes to read such things on a smaller scale, how often would we find the same thing in ourselves? The impulses and purposes the Spirit gives birth to within us are sacrificed in the same way to self-will — the self-will that even a Christian may follow after its idols. In all this, as with Israel, God's grace and the rescue His grace worked must first be forgotten in practice. The way runs downhill.

In Ezekiel 16 God reminds Jerusalem of His dealings in grace. She had been in misery and degradation, and He had washed her, anointed her, and made her beautiful. But she used all His favour in the service of idols, and to gain the support of Egypt and Assyria. She had played the harlot, and would be treated as one. God made her own lovers carry out His just judgment on her. Despite this, His oath and covenant of promise (see Ezek. 16:8) would yet be made good (Ezek. 16:62-63).

It is a sorrowful picture, and no less true for being sad. The beauty of Jerusalem was there for every passer-by... Her idolatrous uncleanness went beyond anything before it or after it. And this was the mark of it. Her divine husband — for that is what her Maker was to her — had given her countless favours, and she wasted every one of them on the filthy idols of the nations.

In reading Ezekiel 16 remember that Jerusalem is the subject, not Israel. And the subject is not redemption, but God's dealings. He gave life to what was in misery and had no beauty. He cleansed it, adorned it, and anointed it. But Jerusalem used everything Jehovah had given her to serve her idols, and to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She never had any idea of independence — of standing alone, leaning on Jehovah.

The clothing of "embroidered work" (literally, "many-coloured work") points to the elaborate ceremonies of their religion. In them, though under a veil, all the grace of God was there for them, as far as it could be expressed at that time. What a weaving together of shapes and colours we find there, once we see what it pictures!

How hateful it must have been to the Lord when an action that expressed joy in the Lord Jesus was used in idol worship... Incense spoke of the merits of Christ. Drink offerings spoke of the joy found in the life and death of the Lord Jesus. Yet the people burned incense to idols and poured out wine to them. By doing so they professed that they had come to know merits belonging to false gods, and that they had found joy in a rite which was really the worship of demons — little as they knew it.

Next comes the story of Israel's failure. Sadly, all her privilege and all her wealth of blessing became for her only the means of a deeper and more deadly fall. Here it is traced to its root: their self-confidence... And we may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges that only God's grace could have given us — so taking the glory that is His due and dressing ourselves in it!

But she had used all His favour to serve idols, and to get the support of Egypt and Assyria. She had played the harlot, and would be dealt with as one. The very lovers she had courted carried out God's just judgment on her. Despite this, He would still make good His oath and covenant of promise.

Then God adds the very thing by which He sustains a creature so dependent on Him: "You ate fine flour and honey and oil." Even in the wilderness He gave them the bread from heaven. It was not only angels' food, as the common version puts it, but "the food of the mighty" (Psalm 78:25) — the food that makes mighty. How ready we are to think that once we are Christians the kind of food we take does not much matter. How little we realise our dependence on the word of God.

If we go further, we find more work is needed. Grain must be crushed for bread — it has to be ground, and that was weary work, especially for women. "Take the millstones and grind meal." We cannot stop there either. To separate the bran from the flour you need a fine sieve. The sifting at last brings out "the fine flour" with which God so abundantly fed Israel. Israel gave that flour to her idols (Ezekiel 16:19), and it also appears as a special item in the merchandise of Babylon (Revelation 18:13).

The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem went beyond anything before it or after it. And this was its mark: her Maker was her divine husband, and she squandered all the countless favours He gave her on the filthy idols of the nations.

Next comes the dark picture of Jerusalem's prostitution, set against this beautiful background of Jehovah's love and mercy. It stands for her wicked idolatries. It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the giver. Instead of worshipping Him, they set up the high places and went along with all the wicked Canaanite practices.

Among the Jews there were fragrant ointments that people could use on themselves or give to their friends. That was neither unusual nor unlawful. But there was also one special mixture of precious ointment. God had kept it back for His own service, so perfuming anyone else with it was sacrilege. In the same way, there are proper degrees of love that we may have for others. But one special strain of love belongs to God. Give it to a creature and it is idolatry. Give it to Him and it is worship.

Grace gives us blessings. If we carry them out of God's presence to enjoy them there, instead of using them in communion with Him, the result will be corruption in greater or less measure. The flesh can use nothing for God. It lavishes His gifts on its idols; for it loves its idols, but is hostile to God.

Israel is the example of misusing earthly favours: they poured out on the altars of Baal what God had given them. The Church provides a proof of the abuse of spiritual gifts. That sinners should abuse His gifts is not surprising; but that saints should misuse His greatest favours shows up in a strong light what man really is.

It is a sad picture, and it is as true as it is sad. The beauty of Jerusalem was on offer to every passer-by... Jerusalem's idol worship was filthier than anything before it or after it. And this was its mark. Her Maker was a husband to her. Yet she took all the countless gifts He gave and wasted them on the filthy idols of the nations.

Against this beautiful background of Jehovah's love and mercy, the next thing written is the dark picture of Jerusalem's prostitution, a symbol of her wicked idolatry. It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the giver.

Scripture records of Israel that they "caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire for them, to devour them... for when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into My sanctuary to profane it." Ezek. 23:37, 39.

Some have argued from the words "passing through the fire," here and elsewhere, that the children were not burned. But this looks like a well-meant attempt to soften how wicked the act was. It was the fullest profanation of the name of Israel's God, though not the only one. Jehovah accepted a sheep or an ox, or even a much smaller sacrifice; Satan under these names demanded their sons.

Adultery and blood are both in the charge against them here. Their idolatry held both: unfaithfulness to God, and making their sons pass through the fire to their idols to be devoured... They were not simply the victims of others. Others did not merely tempt them; they themselves did the tempting... They dressed up in the ornaments God had given them, to welcome the men who corrupted them!

One of the first steps in this downward path was the burning of the little ones of Judah in the fire of Molech. What a fearful thought for a parent's heart! A believer's backsliding and worldliness today may, unless grace prevents it, sacrifice his children to everlasting burnings!... I believe we cannot turn one step away from God without affecting our children. In such a case it is no use to pray for their conversion. It only hardens their hearts, if we ourselves are leading them into the paths of Satan.

Do you argue that it is not really for yourself? But you have a son or daughter, and you want them to have a good place in the world. You have given that up for yourself — but there are the children! This is often how the worldliness of a parent's heart shows itself. It is not the earnest desire for the child to be in Christ, and God's own child. The practical aim first is to secure a good place in the world, though they pray that the child may be saved too.

And what was the return? "But you trusted in your own beauty and played the whore because of your renown." It is a sorrowful picture, and every bit as true as it is sad. The beauty of Jerusalem was for every passer-by. The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem went beyond anything that had been or was to be. And this was the mark of it. Every one of the countless favours from her divine husband — for that is what her Maker was to her — she squandered on the filthy idols of the pagan nations.

This verse 21 is only one of many solemn bans on a horror. It lasted right down to Josiah's days, and Ahaz was a well-known patron of it long before. Some have argued from the words "passing through the fire," here and elsewhere, that the children were not really burned. But this looks like a well-meant effort to soften the reality of the wickedness. It was the fullest, though not the only, way of profaning the name of Israel's God. The LORD accepted a sheep or an ox, or even a much smaller offering; Satan, under these names, demanded their sons.

People spoke of this as a sacrifice. But the practice did not come from unselfish love for Molech. It came from the selfish evil of wanting to get rid of a child. How evil it is today that many want to get rid of a child before it is born! Molech was an image with its arms stretched out. People placed their children in those arms while a fire burned underneath. Then drums and noisy music drowned out the cries of the child as it burned to death. So this religious wickedness treated the torture and murder of an unwanted child as something sacred.

On the heights of Topheth, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, they had burned their children as a sacrifice to Molech. The days were now coming when that same place would become the place of slaughter. The corpses of the people would then be food for the beasts of the earth; they would lie there unburied. Such was to be Jerusalem's rejection and judgment.

A people mad about their idols sacrificed the children really born to God among Israel — the remnant He owned as His. And who does not know that the blood of God's saints has been poured out like water, for refusing to give divine honour to a piece of magically transformed bread? If we had eyes to read such things on a smaller scale, how often would we find the same thing in ourselves? The impulses and purposes the Spirit gives birth to in us are sacrificed in the same way — to the self-will that, even in a Christian, can go after its idols.

Jerusalem is now rightly condemned and humbled. Even so, God will act in full grace towards her. He will re-establish her, remembering His love and His covenant. She will never be restored on the old ground, and neither will Samaria or Sodom. But the grace shown to her will be enough to bring them back too. It is the sovereign grace of redemption and pardon, which is in no way the covenant of Jerusalem under the law. Her mouth will be shut at the thought of all the grace of God who will have pardoned her.

How was it here? She was a wretched outcast, with no ordinary care or pity, thrown out in the field on the day of her birth. Then Jehovah passed by. He saw her polluted with her blood, and said to her in her blood, Live — and He said it with full emphasis. Under His nurturing care she grew up to womanhood, dressed in the most splendid ornaments. Then Jehovah entered into covenant with her and took her as His own.

Like the child pictured in the parable, we are lost, perishing in the field (the world). What could that perishing child do to save itself? Even so we cannot do anything to save ourselves. The Lord passing by had compassion and spoke His Word of power — Live.

This added to His grieved heart: with all her abominations and her lewdness, Jerusalem did not remember the days of her youth. Those were the days when she was naked and bare, polluted with her blood.

Now comes the story of Israel's failure. All her privilege, all her wealth of blessing, became for her only the means of a deeper and more fatal downfall. Its root lies here — their self-confidence. How easily self-confidence shows itself, even in those who owe everything they have to grace alone! We may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges only God's grace could have given us. We take the glory that is His due and dress ourselves in it.

In all this, as with Israel, God's grace and the rescue His grace worked must be forgotten in practice. From there the way leads downward.

Whatever progress we make, it is always well to remember this — "The days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood."

It is important to tell the difference between being taken up with yourself and remembering the ruined state we were in. The first leads to doubt and fear. The second leads to humility and a deeper appreciation of grace.

"Yet I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant … and I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD" (Ezek. 16:60, 62). Here God describes the people with complete faithfulness: how helpless they were at the start, their "time of love" and the beauty He gave them, their wanton and shameless unfaithfulness, their hopeless degradation. Then He assures them of recovery and reunion in a marriage covenant "never to be broken or forgotten."

Against this beautiful background of the Lord's love and mercy comes the dark picture of Jerusalem's prostitution. It stands for her wicked idolatries. It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the giver. Instead of worshipping Him, they set up the high places. They followed all the wicked Canaanite practices.

In Ezekiel 16 God reminds Jerusalem how He dealt with her in grace. She had been in misery and degradation, and He had washed, anointed, and beautified her. All His favour, however, she had used in the service of idols, and to get the support of Egypt and Assyria.

A declaration of "woe" on man is often found in Scripture. It is especially pronounced on those who have had privileges and have not answered to them. The Prophets record many woes against Israel and Judah. Others fall on the nations that had dealings with Israel. The Lord when on earth pronounced woes on those who should have been the leaders of His people.

The Lord then details the excessive impurity to which Jerusalem turned with unbridled lust. She did not only take in every unclean idolatry that passed by. She went out and courted idolatrous dealings with the strangers on every side, and with the most distant Gentiles. In this she shamed even her Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods.

Filled with pride, she would not hear of Samaria or of Sodom — names which the Lord now uses to humble her. In spite of her pride, she was even more worthless than the sisters she had to acknowledge.

Adultery, or idolatry — "with their idols they have committed adultery" (Ezekiel 23:37) — is the special sin charged against Israel of old, who was the married wife of the Lord. For this He divorced her. But in the purpose and grace of the Lord, Israel will return to her former blessed relationship. She will never forfeit it again, as long as sun and moon endure.

Here is a solemn yet certain truth. When God's people depart from Him, they are apt to go further astray than all others. They have slighted Him, so they lose His guardianship. Then they become Satan's special plaything and the victim he wants most. Through them he works to bring greater dishonour on the living God. Then Jerusalem was in question, now it is the Church; but it is always the opposition of the devil to the Son of God.

God has rightly condemned and humbled Jerusalem. Even so, He will act in full grace towards her. He will re-establish her, remembering His love and His covenant. She will never return to the former ground... The grace He shows her will be the sovereign grace of redemption and pardon, which is in no way the covenant of Jerusalem under the law.

When you read Ezekiel 16, remember that Jerusalem is the subject, not Israel. Also, the subject here is not redemption but God's dealings. He gave life to what was in misery and had no beauty. He cleansed it, adorned it, and anointed it. But Jerusalem used everything Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols. She also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She had no thought of being independent, of standing alone and leaning on Jehovah.

The term "high places" has another use, under the Hebrew word ramah, which also means "exalted." Israel is charged with making a high place in every street, and at the head of every road. This no doubt points to some shrine or symbol of idolatry tied to detestable practices. Ezek. 16:24-25, 31, 39. They sought the favour of the pagan nations by taking up their idol worship and customs.

Against this beautiful background of Jehovah's love and mercy comes the dark picture of Jerusalem's prostitution. It stands for her wicked idolatry. It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the giver. Instead of worshipping Him, they set up the high places and copied all the wicked Canaanite practices.

Jehovah then spells out the extreme impurity Jerusalem turned to with uncontrolled lust. She did not only let in every unclean idolatry that passed by. She went out and courted idol dealings with the foreigners on every side, and with the most distant Gentiles. She put even her Philistine neighbours to shame, for they were content with their own gods. (Ver. 23-29)

Here is a solemn yet certain truth. When God's people depart from Him, they are apt to go farther astray than all others. They have slighted the One who guarded them, and without His care they become Satan's special plaything and the prime target of his schemes. Through them he works all the more effectively to dishonour the living God... Then Jerusalem was in question, now it is the Church; but it is ever the opposition of the devil to the Son of God.

In Ezekiel 16 God reminds Jerusalem how He dealt with her in grace. She had been in misery and degradation, and He had washed her, anointed her, and made her beautiful. But she used all His favour in the service of idols, and to gain the support of Egypt and Assyria. She had played the prostitute, and she would be treated as one. God would make her own lovers carry out His just judgment on her. Despite this, His oath and covenant of promise (see Ezek. 16:8) would still be made good (Ezek. 16:62-63).

Anything that is put before the Person of Christ is an idol... Take an evangelist who thinks and aims more at popularity — that is, preaching himself and not the Lord. Preaching is blessed work, and God's means for saving souls, but that too becomes an idol. In fact every soul, believer or not, who does not have Christ as the supreme Object of his affections is to that extent an idolater. So idolatry is not limited to bowing to an image of gold or wood. The idol may be only in the imagination, but it is a real idol there.

And what was the return? "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown." It is a sad picture, and it is as true as it is sad. The beauty of Jerusalem was for every passer-by... The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem was beyond anything that had been or was to be. And one thing marked it out: she squandered all the countless gifts of her divine husband on the filthy idols of the nations. Her Maker was exactly that to her — a husband.

The story of Israel's failure comes next. Sadly, all her privilege and all her wealth of blessing became for her only the means of a deeper and more deadly fall. The root of it all was their self-confidence. How sad that self-confidence can still show itself in people who owe everything they have to grace alone! We may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges that only God's grace could have given us. So we take the glory that is His due and use it to dress ourselves!

The term "high places" has another use, under the Hebrew word ramah, which also means "exalted." Scripture charges Israel with making a high place in every street and at every head of the way. This no doubt refers to some shrine or symbol of idolatry connected with abominable practices. Ezek. 16:24-25, 31, 39. They tried to win the favour of the nations by taking up their idolatrous worship and customs.

In Israel, turning away from God showed itself outwardly in the "high places" they made for themselves. It was only a heathen habit. Such worship plays on the imagination and leaves the heart out. Men still try to satisfy themselves the same way, with music, architecture, drapery, and that most typical "dim religious light" — and all to worship a God who is Light itself, and in whom there is no darkness... The language used here is figurative, but it is still drawn from the awful grossness of the heathen abominations, where the lusts and passions of men were let loose as worship offered to the God of nature.

The Lord then details the excessive impurity that Jerusalem turned to with unbridled lust. She not only admitted every uncleanness of idolatry that passed by; she went out and courted idolatrous dealings with the strangers on every side and with the most distant nations. This shamed even their Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods. (Ver. 23-29)

It is a solemn but certain truth: when God's people turn away from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have slighted Him, so they lose His protection. Then they become Satan's favourite plaything and the victim he wants most for his schemes, so that through them he can bring greater dishonour on the living God... Then Jerusalem was in question, now it is the Church; but it is always the opposition of the devil to the Son of God.

It often has in the Old Testament a symbolic reference to turning from God to idols. 2 Chr. 21:11, 13; Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 16:15, 26, 29.

It matters most deeply, when we weigh our own relationship with God, to grasp this as a divine truth: Israel stood in the position of the married wife to Jehovah (Jeremiah 2; Ezekiel 16)… So the particular form of Israel's unfaithfulness was adultery, as we hear so often in the prophets.

…and then their old land of slavery, Egypt. God delivered them out of it in such a remarkable way, yet it has been a snare to them for so long, in many ways.

How they had forgotten the very name of their God in Egypt is clear from Moses' question (Ex. 3:13); and the golden calf is clear proof of how the Egyptian idolatry had laid hold of them.

Jehovah then sets out the extreme impurity Jerusalem turned to with unrestrained lust. She did not only let in every unclean idolatry that passed by. She went out and courted idolatrous relations with the strangers on every side and with the most distant nations. In this she shamed even her Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods.

Other peoples craved blindly after goods they saw elsewhere. They might credit those goods to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem had no excuse. She had nothing to want from any nation around her, great or small, far or near. So this was lusting after false gods for the sake of lust alone. It was sinning her worst for the love of it.

This reliance on Egypt was especially offensive to God. He had rescued them from that very people by His judgments at the start of their national history. It offends God just as much when a Christian goes back to the world-system. God has saved him out of that system and out of the judgment coming on it. Yet he leans on its power or its wisdom, instead of turning to God for help as emergencies arise.

…where faith weakens, the power of spiritual enemies grows. Out of sheer fear the soul turns to the world and its principles for the strength that comes from God alone. The result is compromise, worldly ways and entanglements, and shameful dishonour to the Lord.

The Lord then describes the extreme impurity that Jerusalem turned to with unbridled lust. She did not only take in every unclean idolatry that passed by. She went out and courted idol worship with the strangers on every side, and with nations far away. It shamed even her Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods.

This harlot wasted, for nothing, everything God's goodness had given her. She paid lovers to come to her and got nothing in return, so her portion from her true Husband was never filled up again.

Ezekiel 16 reminds Jerusalem how God dealt with her in grace. She lay in misery and disgrace, and He washed her, anointed her, and made her beautiful. But she used all His favour in the service of idols, and to buy the support of Egypt and Assyria. She had played the harlot, and He would treat her as one. He made her own lovers carry out His just judgment on her.

The way runs downward. Israel left her true God and sinned in ways that the nations with their false gods would be ashamed of... At Ashdod the Philistines would not step on the threshold of their broken idol Dagon (1 Sam. 5:5). They might well be ashamed of Israel's lewd way. They knew the hand of the Lord was on them, and they sent the ark back to Israel's land. Yet how little did Israel know that hand, or repent under it!

Here is a solemn but certain truth. When God's people turn away from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have slighted the One who guarded them, and without His care they become Satan's favourite plaything and the victim he wants most. Through them he can dishonour the living God all the more, and if he can, make the break with Him past mending.

It works the same way in the story of one soul. Faith alone fights the good fight. Where faith weakens, spiritual enemies grow stronger. Out of sheer timidity the soul turns to the world and its ways for the strength that comes from God alone. The result is compromise, worldly entanglements, and shameful dishonour to the Lord.

Jerusalem stands justly condemned and humbled. Even so, God will yet act in full grace towards her. He will set her up again, remembering His love and His covenant. He will never restore her on the old ground... it is the sovereign grace of redemption and pardon, which is in no way the covenant of Jerusalem under the law.

When you read Ezekiel 16, remember that the subject is Jerusalem, not Israel. And the subject is not redemption, but God's dealings. He gave life to what was in misery and had no beauty. He cleansed it, adorned it and anointed it. But Jerusalem used all that Jehovah gave her to serve her idols. She also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She never thought of standing alone, leaning on Jehovah. She would be judged as an adulterous woman. Jehovah would bring against her the very ones she had chased… After God has justly condemned and humbled Jerusalem, He will still act in full grace towards her. He will restore her, remembering His love and His covenant.

God gives His reasons for His judgments, and said through Ezekiel to His people, "You played the whore also with the Assyrians" (16:28). Jehovah mourned the idolatry of the people He had brought out of Egypt and blessed with such plenty in a land flowing with milk and honey. The Lord met all their needs and protected them from their enemies. Even so, poor Israel and Judah turned to the idols of the nations around them, and to the false worship of the nations He used to discipline them.

Jehovah then sets out the extreme impurity Jerusalem turned to with unchecked lust. She did not only take in every unclean form of idolatry that came past. She went out and courted idol worship with the strangers on every side, and with the most distant nations. She put to shame even her Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods.

They had nothing to gain, because Jehovah had blessed them so much. Other nations, in their blind craving for goods they saw elsewhere, might credit them to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem had no excuse. She had nothing to want from any nation around her, great or small, far or near. So she lusted after false gods for the sake of lust alone. She sinned at her worst for the love of it.

Suppose our hearts lose the freshness of their love for Christ. Suppose Christ has less of our hearts than He once had. Then something else will come in to fill the gap. People say nature hates a vacuum. Our hearts certainly do. If Christ is not filling them, the world will come in, in some form or other, to fill the void. It will happen. But then, there is no satisfaction there… Does lust satisfy? Lust is just unsatisfied desire… And if what I chase is only lust, the result is that the void grows greater.

Here is a solemn but certain truth. When God's people depart from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have lost the protection of the One they slighted. So they become Satan's favourite plaything and the victim he most wants. Through them he works all the harder to dishonour the living God… Then Jerusalem was in question; now it is the Church. But it is always the devil's opposition to the Son of God.

The word comes from another which means "to stoop," as most say. Parkhurst says it means "to lay down," as a merchant would do when displaying his goods. That Scripture attaches to it the meaning of "merchant" seems clear. Hosea says of Ephraim (12:7), "He is a merchant (Canaan); balances of deceit are in his hand." Ezekiel says (17:4), "He carried it into a land of trade (Canaan); and he set it in a city of merchants."

"Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor" (Ezek. 28:17). So with Israel: "You trusted in your beauty," and then, sadly, the Canaanite character came fully out. Israel could make merchandise of that beauty itself. Scripture uses strong language here, to make it offensive to us as it was to God: she played the harlot because of her renown, prostituting herself with the nations around in utter debasement.

Jehovah then details the excessive impurity to which Jerusalem turned with unbridled lust. She did not only admit every uncleanness of idolatry that passed by. She went and courted idolatrous dealings with the strangers on every side and with the most distant Gentiles. In this she shamed even their Philistine neighbours, who were content with their own gods. (Ver. 23-29)

It is a solemn yet certain truth that, when God's people depart from Him, they tend to go farther astray than all others. They have slighted Him, and without His guardianship they become the special sport of Satan and the favourite target of his tricks. Through them he works to dishonour the living God all the more, and, if possible, to make God's estrangement hopeless.

In reading Ezekiel 16, remember that Jerusalem is the subject, not Israel. The subject is not redemption, but God's dealings. Jerusalem had used everything Jehovah gave her in the service of her idols. She had also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She never had any thought of independence, of standing alone and leaning on Jehovah. She should be judged as an adulterous woman. Jehovah would bring against her those whom she had sought.

Our hearts can lose their freshness of love to Christ. That is to say, Christ can have less of our hearts than once He had. Then something else will surely come in to fill the gap. Nature, as they say, hates a vacuum, and our hearts certainly do. If Christ is not filling them, the world in some form will come in to fill the void. It surely will be so. But then, there is no satisfaction there... Does lust satisfy? Lust is just unsatisfied desire.

In Ezekiel 16 God reminds Jerusalem of His dealings in grace. What had been in misery and degradation He had washed, anointed, and beautified. She had played the harlot, and should be dealt with as such. Her very lovers were made the executors of God's just judgment on her. Despite this, His oath and covenant of promise (see Ezek. 16:8) would still be made good (Ezek. 16:62-63).

When you read Ezekiel 16, remember that the subject is Jerusalem, not Israel. And the subject is not redemption, but God's dealings with her. He had given her life. He had cleansed, adorned and anointed one who lay in misery with no beauty at all. But Jerusalem used all that Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols. She also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She never thought of standing on her own, leaning on Jehovah alone. She should be judged as an adulterous woman.

This made Jerusalem's guilt far worse. They had nothing to gain, so richly had Jehovah blessed them. Other nations blindly craved goods they saw elsewhere. They might credit those goods to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem had no excuse. She had nothing to want from any nation around her, great or small, far or near. So she lusted after false gods for the sake of lust alone. She sinned her worst for the love of it, and that left even the vilest prostitutes excusable compared with her.

Against this beautiful background of Jehovah's love and mercy comes the dark picture of Jerusalem's whoredoms, which stand for her wicked idolatries. It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the giver. Instead of worshipping Him, they set up the high places and took up all the wicked practices of the Canaanites.

It is a solemn but certain truth: when God's people turn away from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have slighted Him, and without His guardian care they become Satan's favourite plaything and the victim he most wants. Through them he works to dishonour the living God all the more, and, if possible, to make God Himself hopelessly estranged from them. Then Jerusalem was in question, now it is the Church; but it is ever the opposition of the devil to the Son of God.

And believers may turn back to the world, like Demas, and love it for a time. James calls such people adulteresses. They leave the One they are promised to, Christ Himself, and turn to another. The word must have reminded the Israelites of Old Testament passages where unfaithful Israel, fallen away from God, is pictured as an adulteress playing the harlot (Jeremiah 3:9; Ezekiel 16:23; Hosea 2). It is a solemn warning, and every true believer should weigh it carefully: friendship with the world makes a person an enemy of God.

This is the final restoration of Jerusalem under the new covenant. Here, as elsewhere, the text calls it an everlasting covenant. It stands in contrast with the covenant of Sinai, under which no restoration from guilt was possible — least of all from guilt as great as hers.

The term "high places" has another use under the Hebrew word ramah, which also means "exalted." The charge against Israel is that she made a high place in every street, and at every head of the way. This no doubt refers to some shrine or symbol of idolatry connected with shameful practices. They courted the favour of the nations by adopting their idolatrous worship and customs.

Jeremiah addressed Israel as married to Jehovah (Jeremiah 3:14), and Ezekiel says, "you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!" (Chap. 16:31-32.) But the Church is only betrothed, and the marriage is still ahead. So the sin of those who profess to be promised to the Son of God, and then turn from Him in heart and ways for the hire of the seducer, is fornication. Some confess Christ with the lips, while the affections and desires of the soul go out after other objects — the pride, lust, and gain of this world. That is the special sin marked out here.

This made Jerusalem's guilt far worse. They had nothing to gain, because Jehovah had blessed them so richly. Others had a blind craving for goods they saw elsewhere. They might credit those goods to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem had no excuse. She had nothing to want from any nation around her, great or small, far or near. So she lusted after false gods for mere lust. She sinned her worst for the love of it. Next to her, even the vilest women of the streets looked excusable.

In reading Ezekiel 16, remember that Jerusalem is the subject, not Israel. Also, the subject here is not redemption, but how God dealt with her. Jerusalem had used all that Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols, and also to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She had no idea of independence, of standing alone and leaning on Jehovah. God would judge her as an adulterous woman. Jehovah would bring against her the very ones she had sought.

It all started with pride (verse 15). Jerusalem did not acknowledge the Giver. Instead of worshipping Him, they set up the high places and conformed to all the wicked Canaanite practices.

When God's people depart from Him, they are likely to go further astray than anyone else. That is a solemn yet certain truth. Without the protection of the One they have slighted, they become Satan's favourite sport and the victim his schemes desire most. Then Jerusalem was in question; now it is the Church. But it is always the devil's opposition to the Son of God.

A wretched outcast without the most ordinary care or pity, left out in the field on the day she was born. Then Jehovah passed by. He saw her defiled with her own blood, and said to her in her blood, Live — and He said it with all emphasis. Under His nurturing care she grew up to womanhood, dressed and decked with the most splendid ornaments. Jehovah entered into covenant with her and took her as His own.

Jerusalem had used everything Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols. She also used it to buy the help and favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She had no idea of standing alone and independent, leaning on Jehovah. Jehovah would judge her as an adulterous woman. Jehovah would bring against her the very ones she had courted.

This was indeed an enormous aggravation of Jerusalem's guilt. They had nothing to gain, since Jehovah had blessed them so well. Other nations craved goods they saw elsewhere, and in their blindness they might credit those goods to the gods of the hills or the valleys, and so pile idol on idol. But Jerusalem was without excuse. She had nothing to want from any nation around her, great or small, near or far. So she was lusting after false gods for the sheer lust of it. She was sinning at her worst for the love of it, leaving the vilest women excused by comparison.

Here is a solemn yet certain truth. When God's people depart from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have slighted Him, so they lose His protection. Then they become the special sport of Satan and the victim he wants most. Through them he can dishonour the living God all the more, and if possible make the breach on His side hopeless.

The Church is only promised to Christ, with the marriage still ahead. So when people claim to be promised to the Son of God, and yet turn away from Him in heart and in ways for what the seducer pays, their sin is fornication, or harlotry. This is the special sin marked out here. People confess Christ with the lips, while the affections and desires of the soul go out after other objects — the pride, lust, and gain of this world.

For Jerusalem, idolatry was in the proper sense the sin of adultery, because the Eternal was her husband. In the church we call it prostitution, because the marriage of the Lamb has not yet taken place. But there is more moral connection than one thinks. The heart and the conscience are at a distance from God, drawn away by the lure of gain and covetousness, which is idolatry.

This is the final restoration of Jerusalem under the new covenant. Here, as elsewhere, the passage calls it an everlasting covenant. So it stands in contrast with the covenant of Sinai. Under that covenant, restoration from guilt — above all from guilt like this — had been impossible.

"But you trusted in your own beauty and played the whore because of your renown." It is a sorrowful picture, and it is as true as it is sad. Jerusalem's beauty was on show for every passer-by. Her idol worship was fouler than anything before or after it. And it was marked by this, that all the countless favours of her divine husband — for that is what her Maker was to her — she squandered on the filthy idols of the nations.

He had given life, He had cleansed, adorned and anointed what was in misery and had no beauty. But Jerusalem had used everything Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols. She also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She had no thought of independence, of standing alone and leaning on Jehovah.

This was indeed a tremendous aggravation of Jerusalem's guilt. They had nothing to gain, because Jehovah had blessed them so much. Other nations craved goods they saw elsewhere. In their blindness they might credit those goods to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem had no excuse. She wanted nothing from any nation around, great or small, far or near. So she lusted after false gods for the sake of lust alone. She sinned at her worst for the love of it. Next to her, the vilest prostitutes look excusable.

Israel's failure comes next. Sadly, all her privilege and all her wealth of blessing became for her only the means of a deeper and deadlier fall. The root of it was their self-confidence. Those who owe everything they have to grace alone can still show self-confidence! And we may build ourselves up just as Israel did, on privileges that only God's grace could have given us. We take the glory that is His due and dress ourselves in it.

Here is a solemn but certain truth. When God's people depart from Him, they tend to go further astray than anyone else. They have slighted the One who guarded them, so they have no protection. They become Satan's favourite sport and the victim he wants most. Through them he can dishonour the living God all the more, and, if he can, make the break with God final on God's side.

So too in the soul's own history, faith alone fights the good fight. Where faith weakens, the power of spiritual enemies grows. Out of sheer fear the soul turns to the world and its principles for the strength that comes from God alone. The result is compromise, worldly ways and entanglements, and shameful dishonour to the Lord.

She had played the harlot, and would be dealt with as one. Her own lovers became the agents who carried out God's just judgment on her. Even so, His oath and covenant of promise would still be made good.

This was a tremendous aggravation of Jerusalem's guilt. They had nothing to gain — Jehovah had blessed them so much. Others, in their blind craving after goods they saw elsewhere, might credit them to the gods of the hills or of the valleys, and so add idol to idol. But Jerusalem was without excuse, because she had nothing to desire from any nation around her, great or small, far or near. It was therefore lusting after false gods for mere lust. It was sinning at her worst for the love of it, leaving the vilest women looking excusable beside her.

The idolatrous uncleanness of Jerusalem was beyond anything that had been or was to be. This was the mark of it. Her Maker was her divine husband, and she squandered all His countless gifts on the filthy idols of the nations.

When you read Ezekiel 16, remember that Jerusalem is the subject, not Israel. The subject is not redemption, but God's dealings. He had given life, cleansed, adorned, and anointed what was in misery and without beauty. But Jerusalem had used all that Jehovah had given her in the service of her idols. She also used it to buy the help and the favour of the Egyptians and the Assyrians. She had no idea of independence, of standing alone and leaning on Jehovah. Jehovah would judge her as an adulterous woman. He would bring against her the very ones she had courted.

It is a solemn yet certain truth that, when God's people depart from Him, they are apt to go further astray than all others. Without the care of the One they have slighted, they become the special sport of Satan and the most desired victim of his tricks. Through them he aims to dishonour the living God all the more, and if possible to make the break on God's side final. What a riddle the moral history of the world and of man is to all who do not see the conflict between God and His enemy! Then it was Jerusalem in question; now it is the Church.

This is the final restoration of Jerusalem under the new covenant. Here, as elsewhere, it is called an everlasting covenant, set in contrast with the covenant of Sinai. Under Sinai, restoration from guilt — above all from guilt without parallel — had been impossible.

Filled with pride, she would hear nothing of Samaria or of Sodom — names Jehovah now uses to humble her. She was even more worthless than the sisters she has to own, in spite of her pride. Once she is justly condemned and humbled, God will still act in full grace towards her. He will restore her, remembering His love and His covenant. She will never be restored on the old ground, any more than Samaria or Sodom.