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"Cause Jerusalem to know her abominations"

Text: Ezekiel 16:2

A VERY PAINFUL CHAPTER

Ezekiel 16 is arguably the hardest chapter to read. In this severe rebuke, the prophet delivered a strongly worded message from the Lord. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, one of the ancient rabbis of the 1st and 2nd centuries declared that this chapter was not to be translated and expounded on. The Lord’s rebuking of Jerusalem was very painful to read or to hear.

“Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say,
‘Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem:
‘Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan;
your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.”'”
Ezekiel 16:1-3

1. This word of rebuke.

a) It came from the Lord.

b) It was the Lord who gave this word of rebuke for the prophet to deliver.

2. The subject of this rebuke.

a) The abominations of Jerusalem.

b) This was a theme that many prophets address, but none as severely as this word.

3. The birth of the nation of Israel.

a) This is not traced to Abraham or to the earlier patriarchs like Isaac and Jacob.

b) This was traced to the time when Joshua led Israel to enter into the land of Canaan.

c) A scathing reference.

i) The birth of Israel was indeed in Canaan.

ii) Israel entered into a land where the most powerful and barbaric tribes were the Amorites and the Hittites.

4. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

a) This was an insulting word of rebuke to Israel.

b) The parentage of Israel was actually noble for their founding father was Abraham, who was honoured as “a mighty prince” among the Hittites in Canaan (Genesis 23:6).

c) But Jerusalem’s abominable behaviour caused God to rebuke the nation soundly.

d) The behaviour of Israel was such that they resembled the Amorites and the Hittites!

e) The old proverb, “like father, like son” and “like mother, like daughter” was fulfilled in the gross behaviour of the nation.