August 19th~Naked in a Field

Ezekiel 14:1-16:63

The Lord vented His anger regarding His people and their atrocious behavior. “Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves” (14:14). He was so fed up by their disrespectful attitudes and detestable acts that He had to remove them from His sight.

In describing His people to Ezekiel, the Lord used two analogies. First, He called them a useless vine. “How does a vine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as a tree? Can it be used for making things? No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns up quickly. Vine branches are useless. The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among trees. Since they are useless, I have set them aside to be burned” (15:1-8).

The second analogy the Lord used to describe His people was an unfaithful wife. “On the day you were born, you were dumped in a field and left to die, unwanted. But I came by and saw you there. I helped you thrive and become like a beautiful jewel. When you were old enough to be married, I made My covenant with you and you became Mine... I gave you expensive clothing and sandals. I gave you lovely jewelry and a crown for your head. You ate the finest foods. You looked like a queen, and so you were!” (16:6-14).

The Lord continued, “Your fame spread on account of your beauty, but you thought you could get along without Me, so you trusted in your fame and beauty. You gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines and idols. How could such a thing happen? In all your years of adultery and loathsome sin, you have not once thought of the days when you lay naked in a field” (16:15-22).

Finally, He said, “What a sick heart you have, to do such things as acting like a shameless prostitute. Prostitutes charge for their services, but not you! No one pays you; but, instead, you pay them!” (16:30-34).

Daily Reflection

Wow, can you sense the sorrow that the Lord had towards His people and their unfaithfulness? Does He feel that way when He thinks of you?

I like the analogy of a baby lying naked in a field. How does this picture perfectly describe us before the Lord came along?

How does the picture of the baby becoming a queen capture what the Lord has done for us in salvation?

How does the picture of a prostitute oftentimes describe our relationship with the Lord?

Have you repaid the Lord’s faithfulness with unfaithfulness? Have you forgotten the days when you once “lay naked in a field”?

BiAY.org | Day 231 — 134 Days to Go