Spouses cheat on spouses for a variety of reasons, but, underlying them is one, single fact. They believe that they are not getting what they want or need. They believe, to some degree or another, that they don't have enough, and they need to get it elsewhere.
In Ezekiel, God takes Israel to task for "her abominations" (Ezek 16:2). He calls her an "Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!" (Ezek 16:32). Okay, now, what's that all about, God? How is Israel like an adulterous wife? God talks about all He gave her (Ezek 16:3-14), but instead of being satisfied, they "played the whore" (Ezek 16:15), took what God gave them, and gave it to other nations. Their "whoring" with Egypt and Assyria and other gods ... made them an "adulterous wife."
Adultery is "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse" in its narrowest sense, but in a more general sense, it is giving to someone who is not their spouse that which belongs only to their spouse. And the cause is dissatisfaction. "I am not getting what I want. I want more." When we give ourselves to anything that is not God, we are adulterous. When we seek pleasure and delight from sources other than our Lord, we are adulterous. When we look to anyone or anything else to satisfy, we mimic adulterous Israel. When will we discover that He is far more than enough?
2 comments:
I wish there wasn't a disconnect between my heart and my brain. I know that He is more than enough, but I can't seem to live like He is.
The depiction of Israel as “a whore” (as well as the references to the “great whore of Babylon” in Revelation) can be jarringly graphic. Clearly, the Lord has strong feelings about the behavior and hearts of His people--like a jealous Husband. I have noticed how similar the English words adultery and idolatry are--not only in pronunciation but also in meaning. Surely esteeming anything or anyone above God and seeking it or him/her for one’s fulfillment--rather than treasuring Him before all else--is unconscionable. And while our human spouses are flawed, and therefore even the best relationships will naturally contain some degree of dissatisfaction, the same cannot be said of the Lord, so “straying spiritually” is unequivocally unjustified. (And speaking of “spiritual adultery,” while the Church is quite blemished and prone to infidelity, it is still treasured by the Bridegroom.) Thank God for His faithfulness even in the absence of ours!
Post a Comment