42 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
42 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
title = "Ezekiel 16:1–14"
|
|||
|
|
date = "2023-04-09"
|
|||
|
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel16.1-14)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This whole chapter has the tone of a judicial hearing, but is an analogy of
|
|||
|
|
God's covenant relationship with Israel. He presents His case by describing the
|
|||
|
|
origins of Jerusalem, their relationship, and her betrayal. The analogy used is
|
|||
|
|
that of an abandoned child that the Lord finds and provides for and eventually
|
|||
|
|
marrying when she is of age.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Before Israel invaded the land of Canaan, Jerusalem was a pagan city of the
|
|||
|
|
Amorites, Hittites, and other groups. Similarly, Abraham and his family were
|
|||
|
|
pagans worshipping false gods before he was called by the Lord to journey to
|
|||
|
|
the land promised to him and his descendants. The Lord describes an infant
|
|||
|
|
abandoned in the field, not even washed off or cared for in any way. He takes
|
|||
|
|
pity on her and causes her to live and flourish. I've had trouble interpreting
|
|||
|
|
this bit, but I think I've come up with something that makes sense. The girl
|
|||
|
|
represents the people of Israel, but the very beginning of their history, where
|
|||
|
|
they cannot survive on their own may just be Abraham and Sarah, who could not
|
|||
|
|
have children on their own. The Lord takes this family and causes it to grow
|
|||
|
|
with Isaac and then Jacob and his sons. Twice the Lord says, "Live!" which
|
|||
|
|
could be a number of specific events, but may be Isaac's birth and the
|
|||
|
|
flourishing of the people when they lived in Egypt in spite of Pharaoh's
|
|||
|
|
intent.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The girl grows up into a woman, and the Lord sees her again and makes a
|
|||
|
|
marriage vow and covenant with her. He washes and clothes her, giving her very
|
|||
|
|
fine raiment and feeding her delicacies. She becomes a queen, famed for her
|
|||
|
|
beauty. This is absolutely referring to the time of Moses when the covenant is
|
|||
|
|
made with Israel, through the time of Solomon's reign, in which he amasses
|
|||
|
|
great wealth through the Lord's blessing. The queen of Sheba remarked on how
|
|||
|
|
well his servants looked when she visited to hear his wisdom. (_2 Kings 10:8_)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Next time, we will see what comes after the "but" that starts verse 15.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Your compassion is great for those who have done nothing to deserve it.
|