And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
Ezekiel 23 exposes the awful sins and unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to God by presenting Samaria and Jerusalem as lewd adulterous women under the figure of spiritual fornication. In that prophecy a corrupt woman is the symbol of a corrupt church. The verse belongs to that portrayal, depicting Judah becoming enamored with the Chaldeans as soon as she saw them with her eyes and sending messengers to them into Chaldea, as part of the broader picture of doting upon Assyrian and Babylonian nations and their powers and ways through an unlawful alliance.
Spiritual fornication in this language means apostasy, turning away from God's law and testimony and worship toward idolatrous and false religious groups. Forsaking God to seek security or help from other powers is rebellion against Him. That language does not describe a church using civil law for temporal affairs. Churches that seek union with civil power repeat the same unfaithfulness.
Backsliding Israel and Judah thus portrayed as harlots ensnare souls and corrupt the nations. The chapter is searching moral instruction presenting those sins, best read in private, although some of its passages can properly be read anywhere.
Ezekiel 23 exposes the awful sins and unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to God by presenting Samaria and Jerusalem as lewd adulterous women under the figure of spiritual fornication. In that prophecy a corrupt woman is the symbol of a corrupt church. The verse belongs to that portrayal, depicting Judah becoming enamored with the Chaldeans as soon as she saw them with her eyes and sending messengers to them into Chaldea, as part of the broader picture of doting upon Assyrian and Babylonian nations and their powers and ways through an unlawful alliance.
Spiritual fornication in this language means apostasy, turning away from God's law and testimony and worship toward idolatrous and false religious groups. Forsaking God to seek security or help from other powers is rebellion against Him. That language does not describe a church using civil law for temporal affairs. Churches that seek union with civil power repeat the same unfaithfulness.
Backsliding Israel and Judah thus portrayed as harlots ensnare souls and corrupt the nations. The chapter is searching moral instruction presenting those sins, best read in private, although some of its passages can properly be read anywhere.