A Parable of Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness
Open Your Bible
Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ecclesiastes 12:1, John 15:1-5
BY Elaine Phillips
Here’s a reality check I need from time to time. It comes in the form of a question: When was the last time someone else’s words about me toppled my self-perception? I may have happened to overhear them, or a brave person may have had the courage to speak them to my face.
In Ezekiel 15 and 16, the Lord God confronts severely flawed self-perceptions. First, He asks a series of questions that unravel self-deception.
The Lord—speaking through Ezekiel—lays a brilliant trap with His questions. First: “How is the wood of the vine better than . . .?” The “better than” invites a recital of all the positive qualities that come to mind. Imagine you are in an interview for a plum position and you said, “How am I best qualified for that role? Well, let me tell you!” The question is an indicator that I am preparing to explain why I am the no-brainer candidate.
Each subsequent question presumed the worst about Judah and peeled off additional layers of their faulty self-perception. With chagrin, they would realize that they’d been had. It’s as if the interviewer had asked, “How have you failed in your professional life up to this point? Explain yourself!” Was Israel of any use at all? Good grief, the wood of this vine isn’t even fit for burning (Ezekiel 15:4)! What a blow to self-esteem!
One word—“unfaithful”—connects to the next chapter, the length and content of which are devastating. I have trouble wrapping my mind around the X-rated life described there; Ezekiel does not mince words—sumptuous living, extreme indulgence, exploitation of sex and sexuality.
And then I remember with deep pain that I am surrounded by and in some cases immersed in the same horrors. Arrogance and wealthy unconcern numb my own heart. It’s all there and here. This unfaithful, promiscuous wife of the Lord was skilled in each of these—and so is our desperately sad culture.
But the devastation of God’s judgment is not the end of the story. This Lenten season reminds us that gleaming through the darkest of our valleys are the truths of God’s everlasting covenant and atonement through Jesus. Instead of being burned, charred, and useless, pruned branches will abide in the true Vine and bear fruit (John 15:1–5). Taking the place of the shameless and promiscuous wife will be the lovely bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2).
Thanks be to God!
76 thoughts on "A Parable of Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness"
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Wow! So much going on here. This just makes me even more grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice and to have God’s grace before me.
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Wow! Well said insight. Your honesty is so real. Me too. Meekness and Glory to God!
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Dorothy- the weekly podcast is really helpful to understand these passages!
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Tesh- Great thoughts and questions! Thank you for your convicting post.
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I apologize for the double post. I never understand this app and why it does that??? Thank you She’s for your encouraging words and thoughts. I enjoy reading comments and am glad to be able to pray for all of you. Have a great Sunday in the Lord!
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BUT GOD…I love when I see that. In every area in life that is heartbreaking, difficult and unpleasant, there is a BUT GOD. The days I have run from Him, BUT GOD, was there and never left me. Always calling me back.
To truly reflect that everything we do that is not for HIM is adulterous. Everyday I want to think of my actions, my thoughts and my priorities that way. Through the eyes of the Lord. BUT GOD! My dad passed 18 years ago, when I was 24 and a newlywed…BUT GOD- covered my mom with so many people who loved on her and carried her. 16 years later she remarried a man who loved her so much…BUT GOD! This past November she passed unexpectedly. It hurts. It doesn’t make sense. It is sad and I feel empty a lot of days. BUT GOD…both my parents knew Jesus and taught me and my brothers about Jesus and they both died quick deaths and did not suffer. BUT GOD- He is always there. He knows what is best. He will be with me always and my brothers as well. Thank you She’s for your encouraging words and thoughts. I enjoy reading comments and am glad to be able to pray for all of you. Have a great Sunday in the Lord!
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BUT GOD…I love when I see that. In every area in life that is heartbreaking, difficult and unpleasant, there is a BUT GOD. The days I have run from Him, BUT GOD, was there and never left me. Always calling me back.
To truly reflect that everything we do that is not for HIM is adulterous. Everyday I want to think of my actions, my thoughts and my priorities that way. Through the eyes of the Lord. BUT GOD! My dad passed 18 years ago, when I was 24 and a newlywed…BUT GOD- covered my mom with so many people who loved on her and carried her. 16 years later she remarried a man who loved her so much…BUT GOD! This past November she passed unexpectedly. It hurts. It doesn’t make sense. It is sad and I feel empty a lot of days. BUT GOD…both my parents knew Jesus and taught me and my brothers about Jesus and they both died quick deaths and did not suffer. BUT GOD- He is always there. He knows what is best. He will be with me always and my brothers as well. -
BUT GOD…I love when I see that. In every area in life that is heartbreaking, difficult and unpleasant, there is a BUT GOD. The days I have run from Him, BUT GOD, was there and never left me. Always calling me back. To truly reflect that everything we do that is not for HIM is adulterous. Everyday I want to think of my actions, my thoughts and my priorities that way. Through the eyes of the Lord. BUT GOD! My dad passed 18 years ago, when I was 24 and a newlywed…BUT GOD- covered my mom with so many people who loved on her and carried her. 16 years later she remarried a man who loved her so much…BUT GOD! This past November she passed unexpectedly. It hurts. It doesn’t make sense. It is sad and I feel empty a lot of days. BUT GOD…both my parents knew Jesus and taught me and my brothers about Jesus and they both died quick deaths and did not suffer. BUT GOD- He is always there. He knows what is best. He will be with me always and my brothers as well.
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