Ezekiel 23:36-49 – Don’t approach God with our uncleanness

The crimes of both Oholah and Oholibah had committed against the Lord were patently obvious. None of them could deny the atrocities they both had committed. Hence, they both deserve the judgment. Israel or Oholah had already received their just dessert when she was eliminated by Assyria. Yet here in Ezekiel 23:36-39, the Lord summarised the northern sister’s abominable practices together with that of Oholibah, her southern sister. Both were equally guilty and were equally deserving of His judgment. In these verses, Ezekiel was asked to call out their abominations. 

They both had committed adultery and had blood on their hands. Verse 37 went on to elaborate on how far they had gone in their adultery. Israel and Judah’s atrocities of copying their treaty partners included adopting their repulsive practices. They offered their children as blood sacrifices to the foreign gods. As if that was not bad enough, they even broke the Sabbath law and defiled the holy place. They brought their sacrificed children into the temple on the same Sabbath and partake of them in the sanctuary. They had deliberately desecrated God’s house.

 

Using graphic language, verses 40-44 describe how Judah like Israel lured and enticed foreign nations and had illicit, immoral, and unbecoming union with them. The foreign nations she had enticed were likened to pleasure-seeking men who came with their precious ornaments to pay her for the services she would provide. She even indiscreetly invites drunkards to share her bed. The irony of Oholibah’s escapade was that she had the guts to use the gifts that God and bestowed on her to entice the foreigners.

 

Judah’s illicit relationship had worn her out and it was hope that no one would want her service, yet ridiculously the suitors of Oholah and Oholibah couldn’t care less. They had their flings with both the sisters, nonetheless. As righteous judges who would sentence a prostitute for her atrocious acts, God also would judge Judah for her atrocities. Just as a prostitute who would be executed, stoned to death, and her property burnt up, so also will Jerusalem and her citizens be thus punished. Lord was declaring that Judah would be attacked by Babylon.  

 

Do not profane the things of God. He takes notice of all activities, even when it is camouflaged with religious jargon and activities. James 4:8 encourages us to “Draw near to God” and He will draw near to us. But when we approach Him, we must “cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. Don’t be double minded when we approach God, otherwise He will not draw near to us.