Tag: x-rated prophecy
x-rated prophetic warning!
Scripture reading for August 22nd: Ezekiel 16-19
How many of you are reading this just to find out what was “x-rated” in the Bible? Ezekiel 16 should contain an “x-rated” warning for graphic and explicit sexual content and violence. God knows how to use the street language of the day to get the attention of the people. If you really want the street language in today’s vernacular, you should read this passage in the Message Bible by Eugene Peterson. I read it to my adult Bible class and many were blushing!
In this chapter God explains how He saw the nation of Israel and how they were given life by Him. They had been born in sin and were covered with iniquity but God had mercy on them. God Himself had given the command “Live” and they received life! (Ezekiel 16:6-7) They grew up to become His beautiful bride and He clothed them in fine linen clothes and gave them fine jewelry. They were given ear rings and nose rings and even a crown for their head. They were to be a bride of royalty! (Ezekiel 16:10-14) In fact they became His queen and their fame spread among the nations!
Then a strange thing happened. God’s Queen decided to become a prostitute. God stated that she had become proud and trusted in her beauty and fame! She went up to the high places and spread her beautiful garments and offered sexual favors to all who passed by. She took some of her expensive jewelry and made cheap idols and engaged in prostitution with them! Sex with an idol can’t be too fulfilling! (Ezekiel 16:15-18) She worshiped her idols by offering the food God provided to them in idolatrous worship! She even offered her sons and daughters to the idols by sacrificing them in the fires! What a strange and twisted mind this beautiful woman had!
On top of all that, instead of being paid by her lovers, she paid them to come to her! It was a strange kind of prostitution! (Ezekiel 16:32-34) She had paid for favors from the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians and even the Philistines! All of this behavior was going to bring God’s wrath and the curse of sin upon His people! (Ezekiel 16:37-40) She would reap the fruit of her illicit activities by being handed over to her lovers. Those lovers would strip her and leave her naked and bare and bring destruction on the land and houses. God’s hope was to turn His Queen back to Him again.
As we think about this story, we can listen and be warned ourselves. Many in the church today are compromising their devotion to Christ and His holy word. They are justifying their illicit sexual idolatry and claiming to belong to Christ. They throw their children into the fire by using abortion to satisfy their need to be able to choose not to be responsible for an unwanted child from their immorality. They claim God’s favor and blessing when they are really under His wrath because they have never truly repented. (Romans 1:18-20) Maybe it’s time for another reading of this x-rated prophetic warning!