Scripture Reading : Ezekiel 23
Theme : Summary through Allegory
Israel’s Unfaithfulness (1-5)
Samaria (Oholah) and Judah (Oholibah) were from the same mother: Israel. This depicts the united nation of Israel before it was split into two kingdoms. From the very beginning, Israel learned of idolatry in Egypt. Idolatry continues to plague the nation throughout her history.
Samaria’s Prostitution (6-10).
Samaria’s prostitution blossomed during the time of the divided kingdoms. She formed political alliances with Assyria and others, also worshipped their idols. So God used Assyria to destroy Samaria. Ironically, it was her own lover, Assyria, who destroyed her.
Judah’s Prostitution (11-21).
Later on, Judah did the same as Samaria. Not only did she did the same, she became even worse than Samaria. Her lust for idols and political alliances had no end. She began to hate Babylon after it first conquered her, but she was not able to get rid of Babylon. Ultimately, God used Babylon to destroy Judah because of her spiritual prostitution.
Judgment for Prostitution (22-49). Because of Judah’s horrendous prostitution, God destroyed her. She sacrificed children as food to idols. She was violent, therefore, she received a violence end herself.
Praying the Scripture
The community of faith stands in constant danger of forgetting the grace of its covenant Lord and expending its energies in the satisfaction of its own cravings. When this occurs the people of God, vulnerable to the seductive appeal of other allegiances, often sell their souls in their misguided pursuits. But God considers devotion to any other person or object adultery, the violation of the church’s marriage covenant with him. [1] Pray that you will put away idols in your heart.
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel, p. 764.
经文：以西结书23
主题：用寓言作总结
以色列的不忠（1-5）。
撒玛利亚（阿荷拉）和犹大（阿荷利巴）是一母所生：以色列。这表示二国在分裂之前曾经是一个国家。以色列从一开始就在埃及学了偶像崇拜。之后，这罪便持续地纠缠着以色列了。
撒玛利亚的淫行（6-10）。
以色列一分为二后，撒玛利亚的淫行逐步猖獗。她与亚述和其他国家建立政治联盟，并拜她们的偶像。因此，神用亚述消灭撒玛利亚。具有讽刺意味的是，消灭撒玛利亚的竟然是她的爱人亚述。
犹大的淫行（11-21）。
之后，犹大步入撒玛利亚的后尘。她不但行同样的事，还比撒玛利亚更为邪恶。她对偶像和政治联盟的贪婪是无止境的。巴比伦首次征服犹大时，犹大开始憎恨巴比伦，却又无法脱身。最后，神因着犹大的属灵淫行用巴比伦消灭犹大。
行淫的审判（22-49）。因着犹大猖狂的行淫之罪，神消灭了她。她甚至向偶像献上自己的儿女为食物。她很残暴，所以面对的后果也是残暴的。
用经文祷告
信神的人总是面对一个危险：忘记盟约之主的恩惠，急于满足自己的欲望和贪恋。当神的子民沦落到这个地步时，他们便轻易陷入诱惑，与他人联盟，将自己的灵魂投入无用之途。与此同时，当人将其忠心转向别的人事物时，这同等于教会违反了自己与神的婚约。[1] 祷告你会弃绝你心中的偶像。
[1] Block. The Book of Ezekiel, p. 764.
