Scripture Reading : Ezekiel 16
Theme : Jerusalem the Prostitute
History of Jerusalem (1-52)
The chapter is about how Jerusalem (not Israel) became the capital city of Israel and gained glory because of God’s choice. It is designed to humble the pride of Jerusalem’s inhabitants and to reveal their gross idolatry against God. Jerusalem was originally an insignificant city in the land of Amorite and Hittite when Joshua conquered the land. But God later chose the city to be His everlasting throne, where the Messiah would rule the world (Psalm 132:13–17). She became renown during Solomon’s time. But then she trusted in her renown and beauty and became proud and started to worship idols. Her idolatry actually exceeded those of her neighbors. They were so filthy that they made their dirty neighbors look clean and righteous.
Future of Jerusalem (53-63).
Despite the unfaithfulness of Israel, God is faithful to His promise and He will make Israel faithful to Him in the future by giving the New Covenant to Israel and fulfill all His promises in the Mosaic Covenant. In the Mosaic covenant, in Leviticus 26:40–45, the Lord promised that, after his future and final judgment on Israel, he would remember the covenant that he had made with Abraham. In the Abrahamic covenant God promised to give the land of Canaan to Israel as an eternal possession (cf. Gen 17:7–8; Lev 26:42). This was an everlasting covenant, and God would graciously and lovingly remember to do what he had promised. The unfaithfulness of men does not alter the faithfulness of God (cf. 2 Tim 2:13).
Praying the Scripture
- The destitute condition of Jerusalem in the opening paragraph (vv. 1–5) is a figure not only of Israel in its infancy but of all humanity in its natural state. The dominant gene in the human family tree is its sinfulness. Even the person with the most noble and privileged cultural heritage, if left to his or her own resources, is utterly helpless and without hope. The sentence of death hangs over all from the outset (cf. Rom. 3:23).
- God is never capricious or arbitrary in his judgment of sin. Punishment is always appropriate for the offense; and to whomever much is given, of that person much will be required. Even so, the harshness of his response to human rebellion can be understood only against the backdrop of his grace. Having loved so deeply, he is certainly justified when he responds passionately to one who tramples underfoot his grace.[1]
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel.
经文：以西结书16
主题：淫妇耶路撒冷
耶路撒冷的历史（1-52）。
这篇经文论述了耶路撒冷（不是以色列）如何因神的拣选成为以色列的首都，并得荣耀。这是为要使耶路撒冷骄傲的居民谦卑，揭示他们向神所犯的偶像崇拜之罪的严重性。当约书亚占领那片土地时，耶路撒冷原是亚摩利人和赫人土地中一个不起眼的城市。可是，神后来拣选这城作祂永恒的宝座，即弥赛亚管理世界的总部（诗132:13-17）。她在所罗门时代名声很旺。然而，她信靠自己的美貌和声望，变得骄傲，开始崇拜偶像。她在这项罪行中竟然比邻国的更大。他们十分污秽，以致肮脏邻舍显得洁净、公义了。
耶路撒冷的未来（53-63）。
尽管以色列不忠，神仍忠于祂的应许；祂要在未来使以色列对祂忠实，给予他们新约，并应许在摩西约定中所承诺的一切。在摩西之约里，即利未记26:40-45，神应许在日后向以色列施行最后的审判时，祂会记得祂与亚伯拉罕所立的约。在与亚伯拉罕的约定中，神应许要将迦南地给予以色列永远为业（参：创17:7-8；利26:42）。这是一个永恒的约，而神会恩待他们，怀慈爱之心纪念并履行他所应许的。人的不忠不会动摇神的信实（参：提后2:13）。
用经文祷告
- 耶路撒冷在篇章开头的贫寒状况（1-5节）不但是以色列国初期的写照，更是所有人类生来的状况。人类家谱中的显性基因是罪性。即便一人出生在最高贵、最有文化遗产的家族里，但若他只有自己作依靠，他是既无助又无盼望的。死亡的判决一开始就笼罩所有人（参：罗3:23）。
- 神审判罪行的标准绝不改变，也不会独断。惩罚与罪行一直都是相称的；因为多给谁，就向谁多取。即便如此，只有明白了神所赐的诸般恩典后，我们才能明白祂为何对人类的悖逆下如此之重的审判。神爱得很深，因此当人将祂的恩典踩在脚下时，祂必然会有强烈的反应。[1]
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel.
