Jerusalem as a wicked woman

Ezekiel    Chapter 16

In this chapter, the Lord compares Jerusalem to a baby growing to womanhood and how she betrayed his trust and prostituted herself. He says when she was born nobody cared about her and she was never washed or dressed in warm clothes. Her umbilical cord was left uncut and yet no one pitied her and so she was dumped in a field and left to die.

Then God saw her helplessly kicking about in her own blood and God helped her thrive and grow into a beautiful jewel. Soon she was old enough to be married and so he wrapped his cloak around her to cover her nakedness and declared his marriage vows and made a covenant with her. And she became his.

Then God washed her and rubbed her with oils and gave her expensive clothes and jewelry and she ate the finest food until she looked like a queen and was known throughout the world because of her beauty. But she thought she could get along without God and she gave herself like a prostitute to every man who came along.

Then she took the jewels and gold and made statues of men and worshiped them, which was adultery against God. Then she took her sons and daughters and sacrificed them to these gods. She defiled her beauty and added lustful Egypt to her lovers. So God struck her with his fist and reduced her boundaries and handed her over to her enemies but not before she added the merchant land of Babylonia to her list of lovers.

Then the Lord said that because Jerusalem had behaved like a prostitute, he would strip her naked and ashamed. A mob would stone her and burn homes. Then at last the Lord's fury would be spent. And in the end, he would restore her along with Sodom and Samaria and he would keep the covenant he made with her when she was young and she would know that he is Lord.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In this chapter God mentions additional sins by Sodom: pride, laziness and gluttony and unconcern for the needy.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? It is interesting to see Jerusalem compared to a baby and then a full grown woman who commits such dastardly sins. But we must remember that God does not break a promise. If the people would turn back to him, he would forgive them and renew the covenant. He does that today too. Nobody is out of reach of God's forgiveness. Even if we think we don't deserve it. He will grant us mercy.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson, new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for my grandson Hunter who is lost and afraid and far away from home.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought. Pray for us consumers who will face higher grocery prices and the poor who won’t be able to adjust what little budget they have.