“Have We Played The Harlot?”


BIBLE READING: Ezekiel 16-17
DISCUSSION                                              
                The seventh commandment read “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20.14).  The punishment for violating this command was very severe. "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10).  Anyone who has suffered through unfaithfulness in their marriage can attest to the pain that is inflicted when they have been cheated on.  God knows that they consider this a very severe sin that carries with it a host of damaging consequences.   That may be why He uses the example of an unfaithful bride in Ezekiel 16, to get their attention.   When Israel would go after these idols, they were committing adultery on Him.  If we were to look at it from God’s point of view, it is hard to see how they would be willing to turn away from Him after all the good that He has done for them.  It is because of their harlotry that God is punishing them, yet God still maintains that He will keep His end of the covenant.   “For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you…” (Ezekiel 16.59-60).  God knows that we are sinful creatures; as much as it pains Him to see us sin and commit spiritual harlotry against Him, He still loves us and is willing to keep His promises to us if we are willing to seek His forgiveness.  However, there will come a time when the opportunity to seek that forgiveness will pass.  Therefore, we must do our best to stop cheating on God and seek forgiveness while it is still available; not just to get forgiveness, but to repair the relationship with the One who first loved us.
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