EZEKIEL LESSON 17


     We have been studying about Israel as the harlot wife of God.
The last lesson ended with her choosing others over God. Now, we will
continue with Ezekiel 16:33 "They give gifts to all whores: but thou
givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may
come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom."

     Generally speaking, a whore is paid for their whoredom. It
appears, the sins of Israel had become so terrible, they were actually
paying for the affairs themselves. This really is saying, that Israel
is seeking out the false gods herself. They had nothing to offer her.

     Ezekiel 16:34 "And the contrary is in thee from [other] women in
thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in
that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore
thou art contrary."

     In the following Scripture, we see the very thing this is
speaking of. II Kings 16:8 "And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was
found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's
house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria."  Ahaz was
an evil king. He was not faithful to God, and caused the people to
fall away from God, as well.

     Ezekiel 16:35  "Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:"

     This is a harsh name to call all of Israel, but they deserve the
name. They are an unfaithful wife.

     Ezekiel 16:36 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness
was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms
with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by
the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;"

     These are specific things they have done that show their
unfaithfulness to God. The lovers, in this sense, are the evil nations
they signed treaties with. They were supposed to be a separate people.
God did not want them signing treaties with these heathen nations.
Even worse than the treaties they signed, was the fact they started
worshipping their false gods. They even sacrificed their children to
their false gods.

     Ezekiel 16:37 "Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers,
with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all [them] that thou hast
loved, with all [them] that thou hast hated; I will even gather them
round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them,
that they may see all thy nakedness."

     These very nations they had turned to, will be the very nations
God will turn against them. They will all joy in her overthrow.

     Ezekiel 16:38 "And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock
and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and
jealousy."

     The women who broke wedlock were stoned to death. Those who shed
blood were killed themselves. Their punishment would fit their crime.
God will take vengeance on them, as a jealous husband would do.

     Ezekiel 16:39 "And I will also give thee into their hand, and
they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy
high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take
thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare."

     They will be back to the condition God had found them in, in the
first place. All of the gifts God had given them, will be taken away.
They will be naked, bare, and even unclothed, as they were when God
first found them. The only difference, they are not innocent now.

     Ezekiel 16:40 "They shall also bring up a company against thee,
and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with
their swords."

     This is the very thing that does happen to them, when they are
invaded. They are killed by the sword. The killing of these people is
symbolic of the punishment for a harlot wife by stoning to death.

     Ezekiel 16:41 "And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and
execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will
cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give
no hire any more."

     This fire is symbolic of burning away their sins of harlotry.
When God is through with this fire, the ones left will be faithful to
Him. They are the remnant He saves.

     Ezekiel 16:42 "So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my
jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no
more angry."

     God's forgiveness outweighs his anger. His anger lasts for just a
while. When the stoning is over, and the period of healing takes
place, God restores her to His wife.

     Ezekiel 16:43 "Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy
youth, but hast fretted me in all these [things]; behold, therefore I
also will recompense thy way upon [thine] head, saith the Lord GOD:
and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations."

     The word "lewdness" means heinous crime. This is not just a sin,
but one that brings revulsion. God wants her to remember her first
love, and turn back to Him with all her heart. The punishment is just,
for such behavior. The following Scripture Jesus spoke describes how
God feels about this. Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have [somewhat]
against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Revelation 2:5
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

     Ezekiel 16:44  "Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use
[this] proverb against thee, saying, As [is] the mother, [so is] her
daughter."

     This is just saying, this will not be soon forgotten. This
punishment reaches to the second generation.

     Ezekiel 16:45 "Thou [art] thy mother's daughter, that loatheth
her husband and her children; and thou [art] the sister of thy
sisters, which loathed their husbands and their children: your mother
[was] an Hittite, and your father an Amorite."

     It appears from this, that the unfaithfulness had gone on for at
least two generations. They had taken up the ways of their mothers.
There were many evil kings who led the people into spiritual adultery
in Israel, before God finally brought captivity and death to them in
punishment for their unfaithfulness.

     Ezekiel 16:46 "And thine elder sister [is] Samaria, she and her
daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that
dwelleth at thy right hand, [is] Sodom and her daughters."

     This is just speaking of the evil the neighbors had been involved
in, as well as, that Israel had been involved in. Sodom was a symbol
of evil, because of the total destruction God had brought on them for
their homosexual activities. This could, also, be speaking of the
exiled Jews who lived in these areas.

     Ezekiel 16:47 "Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor
done after their abominations: but, as [if that were] a very little
[thing], thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways."

     Israel was not guilty of the very same sins as her neighbors, but
Israel had been unfaithful to God.

     Ezekiel 16:48 "[As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister
hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy
daughters."

     Sodom had not committed the same sins as Israel. They were
sisters in sin, however.

     Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom,
pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in
her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and
needy."

     Sin, many times, springs from having too much free time
{idleness}. They did not have to work hard to provide for their
necessities. They had plenty of bread. The idle mind comes up with new
ways to sin.
     Ezekiel 16:50 "And they were haughty, and committed abomination
before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good]."

     This haughty attitude means they did not do things God's way.
They thought their own ideas superior to God. They left the natural,
and pleased their own flesh. The following two Scriptures describe
what they had done. Romans 1:26 "For this cause God gave them up unto
vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature:"  Romans 1:27 "And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one
toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was
meet."  God rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah and
destroyed them all except Lot and his 2 daughters.

     Ezekiel 16:51 "Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins;
but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast
justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done."

     The reason for Samaria not being as guilty of sin, is because
they had less knowledge of the law. The temple was in Israel. The
Samarians were idolaters, as well. Those to whom much knowledge is
given, much is required.

     Ezekiel 16:52 "Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear
thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable
than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded
also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters."

     Sodom and Samaria were justified only by comparison. They were
sinful too, but had not been as sinful as Israel. Israel was quick to
point a finger at them and judge them, but never realized they had
more sin than Samaria or Sodom. They should have repented of their own
sin, before they pointed fingers at others.

     Ezekiel 16:53 "When I shall bring again their captivity, the
captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and
her daughters, then [will I bring again] the captivity of thy captives
in the midst of them:"

     God is saying, that after He has forgiven Sodom and Samaria, then
He will forgive Israel and restore her. This is really a promise that
God will restore them in the future. This, again, may not be speaking
specifically of the city of Sodom, but of Jews who are living the life
style of Sodom. It would be unlikely that they deserved to be brought
back from captivity, but God will bring them back.

     Ezekiel 16:54 "That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest
be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort
unto them."

     Israel must bear her own shame. They are a comfort unto Sodom and
Samaria, because God had not spared them. God is no respecter of
persons, when it comes to punishment. He did not overlook Israel's
sin, just because she was His wife.

     Ezekiel 16:55 "When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall
return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall
return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall
return to your former estate."

     In the natural, it would have been highly unlikely that God would
have forgiven such great sin as that Israel had committed. God's great
love and forgiveness go far beyond the natural. Israel does not
deserve to be forgiven, any more than Samaria, or Sodom. Possibly,
Sodom and Samaria, here, could have been not literal, but a way of
life that exiled Jews had been involved in.

     Ezekiel 16:56 "For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy
mouth in the day of thy pride,"

     Israel had shown no compassion at all for Sodom. The only time
they mentioned Sodom, was to tell how evil she was. They felt
they were better than Sodom. The Israelites thought they were better
than everyone else. They, especially, did not want to be thought of as
Sodom, or Samaria.

     Ezekiel 16:57 "Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the
time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are]
round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee
round about."

     Israel was quick to judge their neighbors as being heathen
people. At that time, God had not exposed the wickedness of Israel. It
is so much easier to see other's sins than it is our own. We must be
extremely careful about pointing accusing fingers at others. God will
judge us as we judge others. This is what has happened to Israel here.
This is, probably, speaking of disasters that fell on the Philistines
and the Syrians.

     Ezekiel 16:58 "Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine
abominations, saith the LORD."

     Israel cannot pass their sins to others. Each one bears their own
sin. Many times, when we are criticizing others, we are trying to
cover up problems in our own lives. Israel must bear their own sins.

     Ezekiel 16:59 "For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with
thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the
covenant."

     When Israel made covenant with God, they promised to keep His
commandments. They have not kept His commandments, and therefore, they
broke covenant with God. There were blessings abundant to come to
them, when they kept God's commandments. The other side was, if they
did not keep the commandments of God, there would be curses. They
brought all of this on themselves, when they broke covenant with God.
They made an oath to God, and did not keep it.
     Ezekiel 16:60  "Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with
thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an
everlasting covenant."

     God had never broken covenant with His people. They had broken
covenant with Him. The everlasting covenant that God establishes, is
the covenant of grace. This is that extension of the covenant God had
made with Abraham.  The covenant of grace gives forgiveness, while
they are yet in sin. The covenant of grace is not like the law, in
that it is a covenant of obligation. The covenant of grace is not by
obligation, but by love. The covenant of grace could, also, be called
a covenant of love so great man cannot comprehend that love.

     Ezekiel 16:61 "Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed,
when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and
I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant."

     The shame that Israel feels, is because they do not deserve God's
forgiveness. They are suddenly aware of their sins. The first thing
Israel must do, to receive their forgiveness, is to forgive their
sisters. This covenant of grace extends to all who are willing to
receive it.

     Ezekiel 16:62 "And I will establish my covenant with thee; and
thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD:"

     This covenant is different, in that it is a free gift to man from
God. This is amazing grace that God bestows on mankind. God loves, not
because we are worthy, but in spite of our sins. John 3:16  "For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     Ezekiel 16:63 "That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and
never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified
toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD."

     The wife of God {Israel} has nothing more to say. She is
pardoned. Her husband has taken her back. He is not angry with her any
more. She feels humbled by His forgiveness. "Pacified" means that He
feels no more desire to punish her for unfaithfulness.

     The message for Christians in this, is that we do not deserve to
be forgiven. God, through His great mercy and love, has forgiven us.
He has put our sins in the sea of forgetfulness, and He will remember
it no more. We must love Him enough to live faithful before Him. Jesus
is coming back for His bride. II Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous
over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ."






                         Ezekiel 17 Questions


1.  In these lessons Israel is shown as the ______ wife of God.
2.  How terrible had Israel's sins gotten at this point?
3.  Quote 2 Kings chapter 16 verse 8.
4.  What harsh name is Israel called in verse 35?
5.  Who are the lovers in verse 36?
6.  What was even worse than their signing treaties with the heathen?
7.  How would God judge Israel?
8.  What was the punishment for a woman who was unfaithful?
9.  What happened to all the gifts God had given them?
10. They shall _______ thy houses.
11. God's ___________ outweighs His anger.
12. What does "lewdness" mean?
13. Quote Revelation chapter 2 verse 4.
14. Describe the mother's feelings toward her husband.
15. Thy eldest sister is __________.
16. Thy younger sister is _________.
17. Israel was sisters with Sodom in _______.
18. What were some of the sins of Sodom?
19. Quote Romans chapter 1 verses 26 and 27.
20. How was the way Sodom and Samaria were justified?
21. What is verse 53 really?
22. Israel had shown no compassion for __________.
23. Why must we be extremely careful about how we judge others?
24. What had Israel promised, when they made covenant with God?
25. Who broke the covenant?
26. What is the new covenant God makes?
27. Quote John chapter 3 verse 16.
28. What message is in this lesson for Christians?