Ezekiel 6:9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.
I don’t know why I was so surprised to find the love of God in this passage on judgment, but it shocked me. I would have expected to read of God’s indignation over their unfaithfulness. Or His anger. But His love?
This passage reminded me of the book of Hosea, where the Lord illustrated His relationship with Israel through Hosea’s relationship with his wife Gomer. God didn’t just tell Hosea to marry her, but to love her (Hosea 3:1). And just to clarify the verse from Ezekiel, many translations use the word “whorish” instead of “adulterous” to describe the heart of the people. I think the difference is significant. Adultery implies an act committed because of affection or passion. But whorish actions are done strictly for profit. This describes those who claim to be followers of God, but live in ways that are contrary to Him because it’s better for them.
All of us have experienced pain in life, and isn’t it true that those who have hurt us most deeply are those that we have loved? Our God isn’t just offended or angry with our backsliding, unfaithfulness and indifference. He is hurt by us. Broken. Crushed. Because He loves us.
I could bury my face in my hands and cry, knowing the far too frequent unfaithfulness of my own heart.
Oh God, help me to love You always with a faithful heart!
He is my Delight 