Ezekiel 17

Here is yet another graphic revelation of God’s judgment, this one pronounced on Jerusalem for abominations (v2) or despicable things.  

God begins with a “history lesson” that details the persistent unfaithfulness referred to previously.  Jerusalem was originally a Canaanite city (Gen. 14:18); thus “your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite” (descendants of Noah’s son Ham and not Shem as were the Israelites).   

Jerusalem’s early history was in two stages of youth.  First, in infancy, God gave Jerusalem life (v3-7) when no one else cared for her.  The story in Gen. 14 illustrates this time..  Later He passed by again when she was a young girl (v8-14).  God made her beautiful so that her fame went out to all the nations.  God made a covenant with Jerusalem to be His (v8; cf. 2 Chron. 7:12-22).

This chapter turns on two critical points.  The first is in v15: “But you trusted in your own beauty.”  Jerusalem took the blessing of God and considered it her own instead.  Rather than being thankful to God for His love, she used her beauty to prostitute herself.  She broke the covenant and chased after other lovers.  Jerusalem took the path of depraved mankind seen in Rom. 1:21-23 …

·        Though she knew God (Rom. 1:21; Ezek. 16:1-14)

·        She did not glorify God (Rom. 1:21; Ezek. 16:15-18)

·        Nor did she thank God (Rom. 1:21; Ezek. 16:19-22)

·        But exchanged the creature for the Creator (Rom. 1:22; Ezek. 16:23-29).

·        Therefore God gave her over to depravity (Rom. 1:23-29; Ezek. 16:30-34).  In the end Jerusalem was not a prostitute who expects to be paid; she was an adulterous wife paying her lovers to come to her.

In “fury” God judges Jerusalem out of His “jealousy” as a scorned husband.  Her “lovers” will become her tormentors (v35-43) which in fact happened.  God rates Jerusalem as worse than her two sisters, Sodom (who should have been a byword of what God would do) and Samaria (capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, who should have been a clear picture of what God would do).  Jerusalem rejected God’s warning and broke her marriage covenant (v59).

The second turning point is in v60: “Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you!”  The scorned Husband will still love His bride.  How gracious is that?!  Through an everlasting covenant she will acknowledge her sin and be ashamed and will know that God is the LORD.  All of this grace will require atonement for all you have done (v63).  In other words it will be based in the work of Messiah by His death.  The faithful God will restore Jerusalem!

Consider this story personally.  Has God blessed you, made you successful or prosperous in some way?  Are you living out of praise the thanksgiving for that blessing?  Or do you take the credit and trust in your own beauty?