TOKONAKI NOVEMA 25, 2023
Israel's Idolatrous Nymphomania
‘Isileli Tauhi ‘aitoli mo Fe’auaki
EZEKIEL 16:32-33
"ADULTEROUS WIFE, WHO RECEIVES STRANGERS INSTEAD OF HER HUSBAND! MEN GIVE GIFTS TO ALL PROSTITUTES, BUT YOU GAVE YOUR GIFTS TO ALL YOUR LOVERS, BRIBING THEM TO COME TO YOU FROM EVERY SIDE WITH YOUR WHORINGS."
ISIKELI 16:32-33
32 Ko e uaifi faikovi ia ‘oku ne puke atu ki ha ni‘ihi kehe ‘i he funga ‘o hono ‘unoho! 33 Ko e anga ‘o e pa‘umutu kotoa pē ‘oku ‘ange me‘a‘ofa kiate kinautolu; ka ko e fefine koe ‘oku ke foaki ha‘o me‘a‘ofa ki ho kau ‘ofa‘anga; ‘io, na‘a ke totongi kiate kinautolu ‘enau omi kiate koe mei he potu kotoa pē ke fe‘auaki mo koe.
No prophet uses more R-rated, sexually charged language than Ezekiel does to castigate Israel for her idolatry. In one sermon, he says Israel prostituted herself in idolatry in Egypt, going after gods "whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses" (23:20 NIV). Ezekiel 16 is one long attack on Israel for being a nymphomaniac when it comes to idolatry. Over and over, he refers to how God's people zanah ("fornicate,""play the harlot," "whore"). "You spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry" (16:25 NASB). Only Israel is a bizarre prostitute: she pays people to sleep with her! She was giving gifts to her lovers, "bribing
them" into her bed. Ezekiel's goal is to show how shameful, idiotic, and defiling is the worship of false gods.
Nothing has changed. Our world, with its panoply of pleasures, powers, and possessions, will ceaselessly attempt to woo us away from Christ. "Flee from idolatry," Paul says (1 Cor. 10:14). Run to Jesus. Cling to him, the only true God, our Savior and the ever-faithful, ever-merciful Bridegroom of the church.
Keep us awake and alert, O Lord Jesus, to flee from falsehood and to hold fast to you.
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