30 April 2002

Text: Ezekiel 16

A REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL IN SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE

1. Birth and Nativity

a) Most humble origin
"Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite" Eze. 16:3
i) Israel could not boast of having an illustrious or noble background. There was nothing in its background to take pride in.
ii) The Amorites and the Hittites were residents of Canaan. They were "barbaric." Israel was no better- hence the reference.

b) Unwanted and unloved at birth
"On the day that you were born your nave cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling clothes. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born." Eze. 16:4-5

c) God's Compassion for Israel right from the start
"And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood… 'Live!'
I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew…" Ezekiel 16:6-7

d) God's Covenant with Israel'
"I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine…" Ezekiel 16:9

e) God's bountiful blessings poured out on Israel
"I washed you… anointed you with oil… clothed you with embroidered cloth… gave you sandals of badger skin… I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk… I adorned you with ornaments… put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck…
You ate pastry of fine flour, honey and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendour which I had bestowed on you…" Ezekiel 16:9-14

2. The Abominable sins of Israel

"Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations…" Ezekiel 16:2
a) Trust in Self instead of God
"But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it." Ezekiel 16:15

b) Idolatry
"You made for yourselves male images and played the harlot with them..." Ezekiel 16:17
"You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite." Ezekiel 16:34

c) Human sacrifices
"Moreover you took your sons and daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them (idols) to be devoured. Were your acts of idolatry a small matter that you have slain My children and offered them up by causing them to pass through the fire…" Ezekiel 16:20-21

d) No grateful remembrance of God
"And in all your abominations and acts of harlotry you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, struggling in your own blood." Eze. 16:22

e) Expansion of Idolatrous activities
"You built your high places at the head of every road…" Ezekiel 16:25

f) Degeneracy of heart
" 'How degenerate is your heart!' says the Lord God" Ezekiel 16:30

g) Judgment of God
"I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy…" Ezekiel 16:38

"Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but agitated Me with all these things, surely I will also recompense your deeds on your own head…" Ezekiel 16:43

"I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the Covenant" Ezekiel 16:59

THE PROMISE OF A NEW COVENANT
1. An Everlasting Covenant
"I will establish an everlasting covenant with you…" Ezekiel 16:60, 62

2. Atonement provided
"When I provide an atonement for all that you have done…" Ezekiel 16:63

3. A Complete break from the sins of the past
"That you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame…" Ezekiel 16:62