Two Harlot Sisters

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 23:1-21

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(NKJV)

 

The entire message of the Bible is a love story of God creating man and woman, with them falling from his favor by disobeying His one simple command. However, the narrative does not end at     Genesis 3 for in Genesis 3:15, God promises a messiah who will save people from their sins, Jesus Christ who redeems us from the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23). However, eternal life is not something automatically given to all by God’s grace, but something that comes through one believing in Jesus Christ in their hearts (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). Ezekiel 23:1-21 is a graphic illustration from the Lord given to Samaria and Jerusalem, illustrating the vileness of their sin against God and its consequences. I pray everyone reading this will heed the warning of the consequences of sin, praying for forgiveness and receiving eternal life through belief in their hearts.

 

This text illustrates that the Bible is not a politically correct book but the Word of God stating the truth in its purest form. This text uses the non-politically correct illustration of a harlot to point out the vileness of the sin of rebellion against God. The text begins with the introduction of two harlot sisters, Oholah representing Samaria, and Oholibah representing Jerusalem (Ezekiel 23:1-4).

 

The older sister, Oholah, has played the harlot even though she belongs to the Lord, lusting after her neighbors, the Assyrians (Ezekiel 23:5). Samaria was infatuated by the power, desirability, youth, and horsemanship of the Assyrians, committing harlotry with them by defiling themselves through the worship of their idols (Ezekiel 23:6-7). The harlotry is something brought out with Israel from Egypt (Ezekiel 23:8). God has delivered Samaria into the hands of her lovers who have exposed her sin and executed judgment on Samaria (Ezekiel 23:9-10).

 

Even though the younger sister, Oholibah, representing Jerusalem, saw the corruption of her older sister, she became even more corrupt (Ezekiel 23:11). Not only did Jerusalem join in lusting after the idols of the Assyrians, taking the same path as her sister, she increased her harlotry by lusting after images of the Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion (Ezekiel 23:12-14). Her lusting then turned to action with her sending messengers to them in Chaldea (Ezekiel 23:15-16). The Babylonians came to Jerusalem, committing immorality, with God alienating Himself from them (Ezekiel 23:17-18). Jerusalem multiplied its harlotry remembering the days of harlotry in Egypt like her sister (Ezekiel 23:19-21).   

 

The people of Samaria are going into exile in Assyria and the people of Jerusalem into Babylonian exile for their sins. However, a merciful and gracious God gives an illustration to Ezekiel to illustrate the vileness of their sins, giving them an opportunity to repent (Ezekiel 23:5-21). Blessed with hindsight, we know Samaria and Jerusalem did not heed this warning, with Samaria going into Assyrian exile (2 Kings 17:5-23), and Jerusalem into Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24:13-16). Our hindsight in this example should teach us not to ignore the warnings from the Lord of the consequences of our sin contained in the Word of God.

 

The Church is the Bride of Christ given a clear mission to take the message of the Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to the world, making disciples (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Unfortunately, the Church has deviated from its simple mission and compromised this mission by trying to blend with the culture to attract more members instead of proclaiming Jesus Christ (John 12:32). In many instances, the modern Church has drifted from resembling the faithful Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) to the lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Instead of standing up for the principles of God’s Word, risking persecution as told by Jesus (John 16:33), many modern churches are caught up in teaching prosperity and riches with little mention of Christ (Revelation 3:17). Jesus is not in these churches but stands at the door knocking to come in (Revelation 3:20).

 

However, just as there was a remnant of Jews who did not reject Christ who was saved by Grace like Paul (Romans 11:5), there is a remnant of believers and Churches who have not abandoned the mission of the Church. I want to encourage believers who have not abandoned the mission of the Church to fervently pray for revival in the Church and a return to its mission for fervent prayers are effective (James 5:16). Pray for repentance in the Church including any sin in our lives and a return to focus on declaring the truth in the Word of God under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 8).

 

Oh Lord, may the Church abandon its harlotry and return to its mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples. If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.