Ezekiel chapter 16

vs 21

A father's shock and rage is equivalent to God's shock and rage at this situation. Israel's children are God's children, and he finds the practice of their sacrifice despicable.

vs 22

God places a big emphasis on remembering where we come from, remembering his faithfulness, his promises, and his actions. Yet it is so difficult for us to look at anything except what is happening right the hell now, and even then we find it so easy to ask someone else for help rather than God!

This always puzzles me, but I have two ideas about it. One is that the way God works - graciously and somewhat imperiously - confuses us, and feels counterintuitive. We naturally feel, due to our sinful nature, that we have to do something, or give something up, or achieve or accomplish or give something in order to get something. God just gives, though.

The other is that we don't like the disempowerment that God demands, and so we'd rather turn to idols and try and control them (which of course doesn't work either).

The third thing, of course, is that we don't like the rules that God demands of us, and so we seek to follow the rules of idols that sound more reasonable (even though they can be so much more burdensome or onerous).

vs 23

When God starts declaring woes, it is woeful indeed.

vs 24

Which of course God hates, because the shrines are not to him! Not that he wants shrines, he wants worship the way he has established it.

vs 25

Okay, I have to take issue with the old NIV here - you sanitised Ezekiel! And so purposelessly too. Wow, purposelessly, that's quite a word. Anyway, for shame - even the KJV says it with more aplomb. Thank you TNIV for bringing the smackdown - although the NASB did it first.

This verse is just wrong. The inclusion of the shrine makes it sound like it's temple prostitution now. Whatever it is is detestable and public and blergh.

vs 26

Ezekiel gets pretty foul sometimes (unless you're the NIV or NASB, where they are just 'lustful'). Remember, though, this is God's image, not his. Although no doubt he chose a prophet who could deal it out well. So not only is God's wife Jerusalem whoring it out with everyone closeby, she's even travelling to Egypt to get a piece of their 'great of flesh' action. Political as well as religious prostitution.

vs 27

Now this is a fantastic line. God got so angry with his people that he gives them over to the Philistines, and even they are shocked at how vile the actions of the Israelites have become. How low can you go?

vs 28

The nature of Israel was to cast about for anyone who could offer help - anyone but God - even if it meant going into vassalage.

vs 29

The prostitution analogy has become quite weak by now, because you've got to imagine a prostitute that is so insatiable that when Jerusalem can't satisfy her, she goes to Egypt, then to Assyria, then to Babylon! It's like a series of porn movies. Imagine how badly this speaks of God, that his city is this adulterous.

vs 30

I prefer the 'filled with fury' reading, because by now even I am angry with Israel of old for all their adulterous ways. It's a dreadful, disgusting, awful picture that God has drawn. And yet this chapter shows no signs of abating. The real anger of God is pouring out here.