Ezekiel 16:1-63

The Foundling Child who became an Unfaithful Wife

From Hosea onwards the prophets spoke of idolatry under the figure of unchastity. God was the husband of Israel, but she proved unfaithful to Him. This thought has already been expressed by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 6:9, and it is now expanded into an elaborate historical allegory. The subject is nominally the city of Jerusalem, but really the whole nation of Israel. Jerusalem was a girl-child of heathen extraction, who was exposed in infancy to die (Ezekiel 16:1). God saw her and saved her life, and she grew to maturity, though still in a poor and mean condition (Ezekiel 16:6). Then He took her to be His wife, loading her with every honour (Ezekiel 16:8). But she was disloyal to Him, admitting idols as her lovers at the high places, and lavishing on them the gifts God had bestowed upon her (Ezekiel 16:15).) She even sacrificed to them her own children whom she had borne to God (Ezekiel 16:20). By borrowing the idolatries of the surrounding nations, Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia, she j made them all her paramours, with every aggravation of guilt (Ezekiel 16:23). Her sin had already brought reproach upon her from hostile neighbours like the Philistines (Ezekiel 16:27), but she had proved incorrigible and must now suffer utter humiliation and destruction (Ezekiel 16:35). Men would speak of her as the true daughter of her parents, the true sister of Samaria and Sodom, whose guilt had been less than hers; though she had despised them in her pride (Ezekiel 16:44). Her humiliation would I be completed by her being put on a level with them, and sharing the mercy extended to them (Ezekiel 16:53). Nevertheless God would not forget His love for her, but would pity and restore her, giving her Samaria and Sodom for daughters instead of sisters. Humbled, ashamed, and forgiven, she would know at last the true character of God (Ezekiel 16:60).