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(8) Then I saw that for all the causes for which
backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a
certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went
and played the harlot also. (9) So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry,
that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. (10) And
yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her
whole heart, but in pretense," says the LORD. New
King James Version Change your email Bible version
He uses marriage as an analogy of His relationship with His people—first with
Israel and Judah and later with the church—in order to help us see clearly what
is required of us. He calls Israel His wife, but Israel was not faithful in that
the people committed idolatry.
God considers this spiritual idolatry as being the same as, or similar to, the
committing of adultery
in a human marriage.
This is why He calls idolatry "adultery." It is unfaithfulness to a vow, a
contract, a covenant, or an agreement. The two partners in the agreement, God
and Israel, said, "I do" to be Husband and wife. God was faithful, upholding His
part of that relationship, but Israel was unfaithful to those vows, committing
adultery through idolatry, by worshiping other gods.
Notice how strong God's language is: He uses the word "treacherous." He calls
Judah's unfaithfulness, her idolatry, her spiritual adultery "treachery." It is
a word that is reserved for the most despicable breaches of trust. We do not
like to use it even when speaking of adultery, so we soften it, using a
euphemism like saying he or she "had an affair." God calls it what it
is—treachery, an egregious violation of allegiance, of trust.
Whether a person is treacherous, that is, unfaithful, or whether he is
faithful to his vows, both results have to be worked at, but the former comes
easier than the latter because treachery follows the natural course of human
nature. We have all done what Israel and Judea did through sin,
alienating ourselves from Him.
God does with us individually as He was willing to do with Israel and Judea
as nations. He says, "Yes, you've committed these unfaithful sins, but if you'll
just return to Me, I'll still accept you as my wife." He is willing to forgive.
The condition, however, is repentance—real change in attitude and behavior.
— John W. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
Love and Works
Related Topics:
Covenantal Relationship with God
Damaged Relationship with God
Division of Israel and Judah
Israel's Adultery
Israel's Idolatry
Israel's Unfaithfulness
Judah's Unfaithfulness
Marriage Relationship
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