Links for today’s readings:
Read: Ezekiel 23 Listen: (7:48)
Read: Ephesians 1 Listen: (3:10)
Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 23:35
35 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”
Reflection: A Love Affair with Power
By Erin Newton
We come once again to another uncomfortable passage in Ezekiel. The imagery and allegory of God’s people as prostitutes is the focus for the story. The details of this chapter are difficult and offensive to both ancient and modern readers. It is important that we note once again that this is not the condemnation of women in general, but the use of a female figure as a metaphor for the entire nation, men and women alike.
In a lengthy exposé of the sins of Israel and Judah, Ezekiel talks about the lewdness of these sisters fawning and throwing themselves at powerful men—superpowers Egypt and Assyria. I think we will always struggle to understand why the prophet chose this type of imagery, but what we can see here is the error that was caused by the nations. To substitute trust in God for somebody who claims to have more power is akin to an unfaithful marriage.
What Ezekiel seemed to dance around in chapter 16 is placed on full parade here in chapter 23. The sisters (Israel and Judah) have been like shameless lovers who seek after any possible recipient to their seductions. They are taken and abused and cast aside. And the tragic thing is that even in the worst consequences, they had yet to learn to stop running after these powerful lovers.
What makes power so attractive? Why do we trade the ones we love for the affection of something else? When we look at our spiritual lives placing ourselves in the shoes of these women, who or what is it that we find so much more appealing than God?
At the time of the prophets the nations were struggling back and forth between incursions and battles with all the nations around them. There were promises of peace, promises of a better life—if only they would give up truth and the God that they loved. In return, they embraced the way of life offered by idolatrous nations.
Everywhere we go right now we are bombarded with messages about power—messages that herald someone or something’s power and why we should support it, messages about how to gain our own power and utilize it for our own benefit.
But what does it mean if we strive for power when the Son of God Almighty showed us only what it meant to be humble? Let us not lust for power … or its leaders.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind — Psalm 26.2
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more about In Denial about Greed and Power
Our distraction with sexual language and content in scripture can cause us to lose sight of the passages’ intended message.
Read more about Incest, Greed, and Idolatry
When was the last time someone was disfellowshipped from a church for greed? When was the last time Christians boycotted something due to greed?
