August 20: Worn Out by Obsessive Sex

Ezekiel chapter 23, 2 Kings 24:20, 25;1, 2 Chron 36:13, Jer. 52:3-4, 39:1

Ezekiel 23

The Message (MSG)

Wild with Lust

35 “‘Therefore God, the Master, says, Because you’ve forgotten all about me, pushing me into the background, you now must pay for what you’ve done—pay for your sluttish sex and whoring life.’”

36-39 Then God said to me, “Son of man, will you confront Oholah and Oholibah with what they’ve done? Make them face their outrageous obscenities, obscenities ranging from adultery to murder. They committed adultery with their no-god idols, sacrificed the children they bore me in order to feed their idols! And there is also this: They’ve defiled my holy Sanctuary and desecrated my holy Sabbaths. The same day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they walked into my Sanctuary and defiled it. That’s what they did—in my house!

40-42 “Furthermore, they even sent out invitations by special messenger to men far away—and, sure enough, they came. They bathed themselves, put on makeup and provocative lingerie. They reclined on a sumptuous bed, aromatic with incense and oils—my incense and oils! The crowd gathered, jostling and pushing, a drunken rabble. They adorned the sisters with bracelets on their arms and tiaras on their heads.

43-44 “I said, ‘She’s burned out on sex!’ but that didn’t stop them. They kept banging on her doors night and day as men do when they’re after a whore. That’s how they used Oholah and Oholibah, the worn-out whores.

45 “Righteous men will pronounce judgment on them, giving out sentences for adultery and murder. That was their lifework: adultery and murder.”

46-47 “God says, ‘Let a mob loose on them: Terror! Plunder! Let the mob stone them and hack them to pieces—kill all their children, burn down their houses!

48-49 “‘I’ll put an end to sluttish sex in this country so that all women will be well warned and not copy you. You’ll pay the price for all your obsessive sex. You’ll pay in full for your promiscuous affairs with idols. And you’ll realize that I am God, the Master.’”

This is without a doubt the saddest and most graphic description of sin that I've read thus far in my journey through the Bible. 

There was a time in my life when I skipped over the upsetting or depressing portions of the Bible. Therefore, I've never lingered and pondered on this segment. 

As I read this, my heart hurts. For Israel and Judah (the promiscuous sisters portrayed here), and also for God's broken heart.

His "bride" has brought Him nothing but shame and disgrace.

I knew a beautiful young girl who was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved her and God very much. From her youth she was obsessed with experiencing a worldly lifestyle much like the prodigal son in Luke chapter fifteen. I am completely mystified by this type of behavior. 

I can understand why someone who grew up in a negative environment may have lived out the lifestyle they were raised with. We've all read books and heard testimonies like this. Someone whose hellish life has been totally turned into a blessed life with the Lord! Now that's an exciting read!

Israel and Judah, however, were raised with God's love and miracles. And yet they longed for an evil, wicked lifestyle. God kept reaching and warning them over and over.
As you are reading this right now, you probably know of someone who fits this description. Maybe you fit this description. It was too late for the two women in this account. But I pray it's not too late for either the person you are thinking of or you.
"Dear Jesus I pray right now for the woman who was raised in a loving environment full of Your miracles and Truth. She has experienced Your pure love time and time again. And yet she has an insatiable hunger for sex, sex, and more sex. Her body has been ravished by to many lovers to count, and she feels hopeless. Please keep drawing her into Your loving arms. Please give her a little more space to repent. Please keep tugging on her wayward heart. I don't know what else to say, Jesus. Except I love You only and I will serve You only for the rest of my days. AMEN"