Ezekiel 16 is an allegory that describes Israel as a woman whom God finds, cares for, and enters into a covenant with. The passage vividly describes how God found Israel as an abandoned baby, nurtured her, and then entered into a marriage-like covenant with her when she came of age.
Israel was not a mighty nation; rather, they were a vulnerable people in need of a deliverer—God Himself. God’s relationship with Israel mirrors His concern for society’s most vulnerable members.
The Psalm writer revealed the character of God when he wrote of God as the “Father of orphans and protector of widows” (Psalm 68.5).
As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, they entered into a covenant with God, detailed in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. This agreement stated that if they obeyed God’s commands, He would bless them (Deuteronomy 28).
However, if they failed to uphold their covenant through obedience, they would incur curses (Deuteronomy 27).
Among these curses was one specifically tied to their failure to care for society’s most vulnerable members. This was a self-imposed consequence included in their agreement with God.
“‘Cursed be anyone who deprives an alien, an orphan, or a widow of justice.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ (Deuteronomy 27.19).
Israel in God’s Courtroom
When God called Israel into His courtroom for judgment, His primary accusation against them was their lack of compassion for immigrants, orphans, and widows, and their failure to provide justice to the most vulnerable of society.
Thus says the Lord:
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals—
They who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in to the same young woman,
so that my holy name is profaned;
They lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God they drink
wine bought with fines they imposed. (Amos 2.6-8)
Amos arrived in Israel during a period of prosperity. However, Israel did not flourish in this time of abundance.
The poor, unable to pay their debts, were sold into slavery at seemingly low prices. In the courtroom, the poor were denied justice.
It appeared as if the powerful trampled the heads of the poor into the earth’s dust and pushed the afflicted away from justice. Vulnerable women suffered abuse within this system.
The people of the Northern Kingdom were religiously active, but their worship, as we will find throughout the Book of Amos, was deeply flawed.
One significant flaw was their mistreatment of the poor; despite their religious practices.
Instead of serving the poor and those in need, they abused the most vulnerable members of society for personal gain.
Another Billy Sunday Quote
In yesterday’s blog article, I quoted from the fiery revivalist of another age, Billy Sunday.
Here’s another of Sunday’s quotes that I remember: he used to say, “If I’m shooting down a hole and you happen to be down there, you’re going to get hit.”
When we look at Israel’s practices, we need to ask God, “Lord, are you shooting in my direction to get my attention so I can adjust my life to your will?”
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 