God speaks to Ezekiel again and compares the two kingdoms of Israel (Samaria in the story, the capital of the kingdom of Israel) and Judah (Jerusalem in the story, the capital of the kingdom of Judah) to two sisters. However, these sisters are described as young virgins who wish to have their breasts fondled and enjoyed by the men (the nations) around them. In the case of Judah, the nation of Egypt and eventually also Assyria, and in the case of Israel, the nation of Assyria.
These ladies are described as prostitutes because they have gone to other lovers. They have looked to other gods. They have depended upon their own wisdom. But in the end it does them no good at all. These other nations do not want what is good for them. Instead, they leave them stripped naked, bruised and battered, and their nakedness and shame will be exposed to everyone.
As we run to other things aside from the one true God… as we go on to put our trust and dependency in these things… we are going in the same direction that Israel and Judah went. They wanted to run their lives their way, and so do we. They wanted to find their own solutions, and so do we.
But they also found out the true consequences to their actions, and if we do as they did, so will we.
But it is worse than that. God, as our original “lover”, just as he was with the Israelites, won’t stand by idly. He sees what is happening and will call out our actions. See what God says through Ezekiel:
The LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices, for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.
Ezekiel 23:36-37
God knows what is happening. He knew with the Israelites and he knows with us. And he will declare judgement. He is jealous and wants us for himself. He wants us to give glory and worship to him, not to other so-called gods. He wants us to run to him, not to other things for our safety and security. Not just loyalty, but fidelity. Completely in love, completely sold out to him.