1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. … (Ezekiel 16:1-52 KJV)
The Allegory of Apostasy
In this chapter, Ezekiel 16, Ezekiel’s message to Jerusalem focuses on their infidelity and idolatry towards God. Jerusalem was God’s chosen city and the temple of God could be found there, but they slipped into idolatry. The prophet uses the metaphor of a promiscuous woman to describe the city’s unfaithfulness to God. The descriptions of adultery and whorings in this chapter actually refer to idolatry; hence, the adultery being talked about is spiritual adultery. The metaphor of spiritual adultery illustrates the giving of love, devotion, time, and strength to the world, which should have been given to the Lord alone. Ezekiel’s message emphasizes the severity of Jerusalem’s sin and the need for repentance.
God justified that He alone is worthy of Jerusalem’s devotion by telling the good things He had done for them, saying, “…. I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, …”.
This tells how God has been so generous and caring to the people of Jerusalem, and yet they paid Him back with ungratefulness and forsook him for pagan gods who have no ability to do them good. The main writer of Ezekiel 16 is God. The whole allegorical story appears to be like a disappointed husband sharing his grief and complaining about his adulterous wife. Hence, apostasy appears to be as hurtful as it is repugnant in the sight of God. The emotions of the Writer are akin to what every man would feel if his wife cheats on him or what every woman would feel if her husband cheats on her.
God’s judgment on Jerusalem is described in shocking detail by Ezekiel. The city will be mutilated and murdered by her foreign lovers with whom she committed adultery and whoredom. God promises to bring this judgment with passion and fury. He justifies himself in the desolations he is about to bring upon Jerusalem. The appropriate judgment must be rendered as Jerusalem bears her shame and disgrace.
Despite the severity of Jerusalem’s sin, God promises restoration and redemption. Appropriate judgment must be rendered as Jerusalem bears her shame and disgrace. However, the story does not end there. God will eventually restore Jerusalem and her sisters, Sodom and Samaria. The phrase “turn the captivity” refers to the restoration of the people to their land and the rebuilding of the city. Ezekiel’s message highlights the consequences of sin, the importance of repentance, and the amazing deliverance due to God’s love.