Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"Declare to them their abominations"
Text: Ezekiel 23:36
THE ABOMINATIONS OF JUDAH
The word “sin” no longer meant anything to Judah. A stronger word was used by the Lord to describe the sinful ways of the nation.
“The Lord also said to me:
‘Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah?
Then declare to them their abominations.
For they have committed adultery,
and blood is on their hands.
They have committed adultery with their idols,
and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me,
passing them through the fire, to devour them.'”
Ezekiel 23:36-37
1. Oholah and Oholibah
a) These were the nicknames of Samaria and Jerusalem.
b) The Lord used these two names in Ezekiel 23 consistently.
c) The meaning of the names.
i) Oholah means “her tent”.
To signify that Samaria had chosen to depart from God’s tent.
ii) Oholibah means “My tent is in her”.
Initially, Jerusalem remained in her faith in God (but not for long).
d) Both names were not used in a good sense.
2. Judgment
a) Was it wrong to judge Samaria and Jerusalem?
b) Ezekiel was commanded to declare the sins of Israel and Judah.
c) They had a long history of wickedness.
d) Their sins were declared as “abominations”.
3. Abominations highlighted.
a) Spiritual adultery.
b) The shedding of blood.
c) Sacrifice of children to idols.
d) Children belonged to God and should not have been sacrificed by fire.