But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!
Ezekiel 16:32 pictures Israel's departure from the Lord as the act of a wife committing adultery, who takes strangers in place of her husband. The image is the church's unfaithfulness to Christ, turning its trust and affection away from Him to give its love to other objects. It is the same spiritual betrayal when professed Christians seek the friendship of the world above the favor of God.
The relation between Christ and His church is a marriage union by solemn covenant, in which He is to be their God and they are to be His and His alone. Unfaithfulness of the church to Christ is therefore spiritual adultery that violates the marriage vow. When confidence and affection are turned from Christ, and love for worldly things is allowed to occupy the soul, the church takes strangers instead of her husband. Seeking the friendship of the world above the favor of God in this way is dealing treacherously with the Lord, as Israel did in departing from Him.
Ezekiel 16:32 pictures Israel's departure from the Lord as the act of a wife committing adultery, who takes strangers in place of her husband. The image is the church's unfaithfulness to Christ, turning its trust and affection away from Him to give its love to other objects. It is the same spiritual betrayal when professed Christians seek the friendship of the world above the favor of God.
The relation between Christ and His church is a marriage union by solemn covenant, in which He is to be their God and they are to be His and His alone. Unfaithfulness of the church to Christ is therefore spiritual adultery that violates the marriage vow. When confidence and affection are turned from Christ, and love for worldly things is allowed to occupy the soul, the church takes strangers instead of her husband. Seeking the friendship of the world above the favor of God in this way is dealing treacherously with the Lord, as Israel did in departing from Him.