“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will punish him for breaking my covenant and disregarding the solemn oath he made in my name. [Ezekiel17.19]
This conclusion comes after the riddle about the two great eagles. It has everything to do with Israel not remaining loyal to a covenant relationship with God alone. If we can see it, it further describes the covenant relationship of marriage descried earlier in Ezekiel (yesterday's One Year Chaological Bible reading).
If God had not promised His people that He would care for their every need (blessings) in His Covenant, things would be much different for God's people (past, present and future). But, that is simply not the case.
God made all-encompassing covenant promises to bless His people if they remained loyal to Him (see Deuteronomy 28.1-14). In so doing, God made those blessings His to provide for His people and His alone, the same as a husband makes covenant relationship with his wife and she looks only to him (and not another man) for her every need.
God did no less in His New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Jesus described life in Himself as the Kingdom of God then described what that covenant relationship should look like much that same as Deuteronomy 28.1-14 described:
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]
It is just as much idolatry to violate the terms of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus as it was idolatry to violate the Old Covenant! To receive the provisions of Matthew 6.33 from any other source than God alone is spiritual adultery - it is stepping outside the New Covenant relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, and doing things our own way. Jesus Himself was very clear about doing things our own way:
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. [Matthew 16.24-25]
Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading describes the condition of people with divided or misdirected loyalties:
But when the vine is transplanted, will it thrive? No, it will wither away when the east wind blows against it. It will die in the same good soil where it had grown so well.” [Ezekiel 17.10]
And the New Testament supports this also:
Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. [James 1.8]
And then, with the entire Bible telling us exactly why it is so, we still wonder today why it seems our faith is so powerless!
Broken covenant is a big deal to God. It was in ancient times, and it is now. For God's people's faith to be placed anywhere except in Him alone is spiritual adultery against "Jealous God."
Father, as plainly as it is presented here, unless Your people know Your Word (knowing You) they will not, because they cannot see the truth of what is said here. Help us to go to Your Word - to know it - to know You - to know Jesus - finding the clear Kingdom directive to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. Help us to see that Your miraculous power is reserved only for those with undivided loyalty to You! So be it.
