The word coming to Ezekiel opens a prophetic message from the Lord that begins the chapter. What follows sets out in blunt terms the awful sins and spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah, named as Samaria and Jerusalem, under the figures of lewd, adulterous women. Their forsaking of God to seek help from Egypt was rebellion against Him. Having been joined to God, they turned instead to foreign powers, including the Assyrians and Babylonians.
The corrupt, adulterous woman is a symbol of a corrupt church, picturing God's people abandoning His precepts to join themselves to the world, for which they are judged as adulterous. The same example applies to churches that seek union with civil power, for they likewise turn from relying on God. The chapter gives searching moral instruction, including predictions of the last days. Because of its plain language it is best read in private, although some passages in it are suitable to read anywhere.
The word coming to Ezekiel opens a prophetic message from the Lord that begins the chapter. What follows sets out in blunt terms the awful sins and spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah, named as Samaria and Jerusalem, under the figures of lewd, adulterous women. Their forsaking of God to seek help from Egypt was rebellion against Him. Having been joined to God, they turned instead to foreign powers, including the Assyrians and Babylonians.
The corrupt, adulterous woman is a symbol of a corrupt church, picturing God's people abandoning His precepts to join themselves to the world, for which they are judged as adulterous. The same example applies to churches that seek union with civil power, for they likewise turn from relying on God. The chapter gives searching moral instruction, including predictions of the last days. Because of its plain language it is best read in private, although some passages in it are suitable to read anywhere.