Day 252

God Our Husband

Read: Ezekiel 22-24

Having named and condemned the sins of Jerusalem once again, God compares Jerusalem and Samaria, the capitals of Judah and Israel respectively, with two sisters. They were God’s “wife” so to speak, but they both behaved like prostitutes. They should have had an exclusive relationship to God, but instead they built intimate relationships with other nations in whom they put their trust along with idols. This was a matter of spiritual adultery which would lead to terrible punishment.

Physical adultery has not only become widespread in society today, but increasingly acceptable. God’s Word makes it clear that such behavior will never become acceptable in his sight. Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, which the New Testament compares to the relationship between Christ and his church. Faithfulness to the covenants we make is strongly emphasized in Scripture. The church must make it clear to its members that sexual immorality will not be tolerated by God. Those who break God’s commandments pay a high price.

But spiritual adultery is a more serious sin. The church is the bride of Christ. We are to be faithful to him as he is faithful to us. To allow other things to take the central place in our hearts which only he should have is spiritual adultery. There is a high price to be paid for such sin.

PRAYER
Father, we thank you for the intimate relationship we have to you. Help us to be faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.