then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.
Ezekiel 6:9 ESV
As the Lord is in the midst of pronouncing this judgement against Israel, he takes a moment to bring hope to the people. A hope that when God brings judgement and punishment, that the people will repent. The people will turn from their wickedness and embrace Jesus. A hope that I will see my sin as loathsome and an abomination before God. A hope that I will see that God has been broken over my sinful heart and that I too should be broken and turn back to him.
There were several key points of this passage for me this morning. First, that God has been broken over the wickedness of Israel. I don’t really think too often about God having feelings or being affected by my sins and decisions other than bringing judgement. I oftentimes picture him as sort of a stoic impassive being that has no emotions. I know that the Bible teaches me that this is not true. I know that God uses emotional language throughout Scripture to describe his jealousy, his wrath, his anger, his compassion, his love. I see him moved by the prayers and pleadings of his people. Yet, I oftentimes forget that God can be broken over my sinful heart and my continued desire to have unrighteousness in place of him.
Second, the description of my heart whoring after idols strikes deep within me. This is really the best description of my lust for anything other than Christ. Aside from the promiscuous selling of oneself for money, this also means that I am putting myself in a position of unworthy use. I am using my body or my emotions or my gifts in an unworthy manner. Instead of glorifying God, I am seeking my own selfish pleasure and fulfillment. I am using myself and others in a manner not designed nor intended by God. I am exchanging the free gift of communion with God for the fleeting and passing pleasures that this world has to offer. I am debasing myself and the name of the Lord before the world. I am repeatedly go back to sin. Offering myself up to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Knowingly. For in my whoring, I am not without understanding what I am doing. I am seeking idols to replace the one true God. I am active in my unbelief.
Third, that the goal of this judgement, adversity, trial, and suffering is to open my eyes to the truth of my whoring. To let me see with clarity the extent and depth of my sinful heart. To break me! Just as God is broken over my whoring heart, so too am I to be broken. I am to see the truth of God’s word as it exposes the lies within my heart. I am to see the ugliness and darkness that pervades my innermost secret being. That all that I thought was hidden, is exposed before the Lord. I am to see God being broken over my sinful rebellious heart and it should break me.
In my brokenness, I am to come to Jesus for forgiveness. In humility I can cry out to Jesus for salvation and healing. He is faithful. He is faithful to bring cleansing to my heart. To bring me back from my whoring ways and restore me to fellowship with him in the Spirit. These trials and adversity are not vindictive. They are not without hope. They are intended to rescue me. They are intended to save me. They are the loving actions of a good Father toward his son. Disciplining me when I need correction. Restoring fellowship and setting things right once again.
Journal Entry // October 03, 2021