Warning! Graphic Material!

I have, at least for the time being, decided to do a little post on some of the passages of Scripture that are not often referenced. One passage that comes to mind is Ezekiel 16. Since the chapter has 63 verses I will not cover the entire chapter in one post.

This first portion is not too graphic (at least not compared to the rest) and does show God's love in a vivid way. Later portions will become slightly more graphic. It is important to remember that this is the word of the Lord spoken to Israel:

Ezekiel 16:

3and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem, "Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

4"As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths.

5"No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born.

6"When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, 'Live!'

7"I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

8"Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD.

9"Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.

10"I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

11"I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.

12"I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.

13"Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.

14"Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.

Allow the imagrey to penetrate your heart. See yourself in the place of Israel, helplessly squirming in your own blood whom God decided to make great. We will examine what Israel does in light of this in the next post.

In Christ alone,
mike