“I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.” (Ezekiel 16:10)
Ezekiel chapter 16 is a prophecy against Israel because of idolatry. The imagery that Ezekiel paints is almost too painful to read but reveals God’s perception of the betrayal of their sin. In this lesson we will study the beginning of Israel according to the prophetic words of Ezekiel and God’s mercy and love toward Israel; verses 1-10.
God says to Israel, that before He had mercy on Israel, it was detested like an aborted baby whose parents were the most depraved sinners. Ezekiel relates Israel’s origins to be Amorites and Hittites. In their sin they were. The Amorites practiced child sacrifice and immorality of all kinds. The Hittites worshipped many pagan gods. Israel had adopted these sinful practices. (verses 2,3)
When God saw Israel, it was like an abandoned baby, discarded. (verses 4,5) Ezekiel uses this imagery to depict its relationship to God. They were without God, without His mercy, love and care. And so, we see how God looks upon the unbeliever, those who have not drawn near to Him. Those who are without God and who don’t know Him. They are like aborted babies that no one is caring for and who will surely die. They are unloved and abandoned.
In biblical terms they in the kingdom of sin and darkness, influenced by the devil and unable to escape the bondage they are in. “...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12) John records the vision of what is shown to him. Revelation is difficult to interpret because John’s revelation swings from things past, present and future, earth and heaven. But in this verse, we get a glimpse that the world is where satan roams with great wrath against humanity. And all those who are without God are trapped in this kingdom of darkness. Their hearts are darkened. Their eyes and ears of understanding shut so they can’t understand the Gospel. (Isaiah 44:18) “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Corinthians 2:6-14) Why can’t they understand? “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Corinthians 4:3-4) They cannot escape nor help themselves. And there is none that can help them. There is no escape except through One. And that is Jesus. When they recognize the condemnation because of their sin, repent and turn to Jesus, the Father will translate them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light, Truth, Love, Peace, and all the good things of Jesus. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1:13)
And so was Israel, without God. But God in His mercy and love, took this abandoned baby, cleaned it, and spoke the Word, “Live” to it. (verse 6-9) And that is the Word God speaks to us when He rescues us. “Live!” So, we now live in righteousness. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1Peter 2:24)
But God did not merely clean, nurture and help this abandoned baby so it could live, but clothed it royally. (verse 10) And so the Lord did not just save us, but continues to shower His blessing on us, making us kings and priests in His kingdom. (1 Peter 2:9) And we are clothed with our Lord, Jesus, (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27), clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49) and the likeness of God. “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24) Paul in Colossians writes: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:” (Colossians 3:10) We’ve come a long way from that abandoned and unloved baby. Praise the Lord!
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