Day #244

Sermon - Audio
Ezekiel 16-17 - Audio
Ezekiel 16-17 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

As in ch. 15, the oracle focuses on the city of Jerusalem, and not “Israel” per se. This accounts for the seemingly unusual account of origins given in 16:3 and is the reason why the “sisters” in the second half of the chapter are also both cities. The first stage of the oracle depicts Jerusalem’s helpless and hopeless state—except for the intervention of the passerby (who is God). -ESVSB-

4-5 - Stage 1 - Jerusalem is seen as a newborn.

7 - Stage 2 - In puberty and needing resources.

8-14 - Stage 3 - Given in marriage, full adulthood, in a loving covenant with God. God called her, named her, and gave her good gifts.

15-34 - But...this is your response to My love. The same gifts given are abused. You will notice the word "whore" used a lot.

*trusted in yourselves
*deceived and entrapped those who passed by/shamed God by your appeal to the world
*played the whore/idolatry
*sacrificed children
*forgot your youth
*prideful
*comfortable ease
*given over to culture/you did not impact it
*you gave yourself over to the very people I rescued you from

v33-34 - It wasn't that they were just whores, it's that they were so desperate to be a whore that is so shocking. They actively pursued and gave up the gifts in order to whore themselves out even more.

v37 - The same people who Jerusalem has whored themselves to will destroy them.

v43 - Again, the people have forgotten...not remembered the Lord their God

v48-52 - The sins of Jerusalem are seen as greater than those of Sodom! What was the sin of Sodom: Pride, Excess of food (overfed), and Prosperous Ease, no social justice/righteousness. Good thing everythings changed huh? right?

*There were many sins in Sodom, but God chooses to highlight the bigger issues.

v53 - God intends to restore . . . the fortunes of both Sodom and Samaria and their daughters, a reference to cities allied with each. In addition, God will restore Jerusalem. -JSB-

v59-63 - The Everlasting Covenant. The final brief passage of ch. 16 explicitly refers back both to the sections on the abandoned child (8 and 59, 22 and 60) and the “sisters” (45 and 61), drawing them together in one conclusion. The malleability of the metaphors can be seen in the sisters being given as daughters in v. 61. The everlasting covenant (Hb. berit {olam) of v. 60 finds parallels elsewhere in the OT, most significantly in 37:26 (cf. Isa. 61:8); also within the context of bringing back together the old kingdoms of north and south (cf. the hope expressed in Jer. 32:40). -ESVSB-

Ezekiel 17

v1-10 - The Parable Narrated. Although the story is easily followed, it still puzzles the hearer. It proceeds in two phases. A great eagle (v. 3) transplants a twig from a cedar, then plants a seed, which becomes a flourishing vine. But then a second, lesser eagle (v. 7) attracts the vine’s attention and draws it away from the first. ESVSB