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