“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 22.30-31]
What is the general picture that Ezekiel paints with his writings and prophecy? It is about Israel's betrayal of God. The opposite of betrayal is devotion - devotion to God includes looking out for people because God's Kingdom is made of people!
How does God view it when we are not devoted to Him? Ezekiel 23 paints a very vivid picture that mankind can relate to as its based level. Ezekiel 23 uses sexual references that, although few are willing to discuss, are more familiar than anything to mankind. In this sexual reference, Israel (depicted by the two sisters) lusts for Assyria and Babylon (in gross prostitution) instead of God (in holy wedlock). What is it they lust for? Help. Read the stories - Israel initially depends on these other countries for help from other enemies! Israel's "prostitution" was found in seeking help other than God's!
It is not ironic then, that preceding Ezekiel 23 we find that God was "looking for someone..." in Ezekiel 22.30-31!
As gross and disgusting as Ezekiel 23 is, we must remind ourselves how disgusting it is to God when we look for help from any source other than Him. It is no wonder Jesus so clearly stated in Matthew 6.33 that we must "seek first the Kingdom of God..."
What is the main indicator that we are seeking God's help and not the help of man or otherwise? Prayer.
Father, You know how to get our attention - and You have done it so well in the writings of Ezekiel. Help us - help me - to pay attention to Israel's prostitution in turning to Assyria and Babylon instead of You. Help us to seek You FIRST!
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