The Unfaithful Spouse Series

SERIES: “EXCERPTS FROM EZEKIEL”

TEXT: EZEKIEL 16

TITLE: “THE UNFAITHFUL SPOUSE”

INTRODUCTION: A. Adultery has become a very commonplace thing

1. Movie stars, entertainers, sports stars, political leaders, and even religious leaders

have had full-blown and very public adulterous affairs.

2. Maybe some of you have experienced the pain, disgust and shame of a spouse who

has been unfaithful to you

3. Probably some of you have supported and encouraged family members and friends

as they went through the agony and embarrassment of an unfaithful spouse

4. Perhaps someone here today has been guilty of this very behavior

B. Maybe you’ve seen the movie version of the musical Camelot

1. It’s the story of King Arthur, the love of his life – his wife Guinevere, and the man

who would become Arthur’s best friend – Sir Lancelot.

2. There’s a scene that occurs after Arthur has uncovered the illicit relationship

between his wife, whom he calls Jenny and Lancelot

3. Listen closely to the words Arthur uses to express his hurt and rage:

Proposition: If I could choose from every woman who breathes on this earth, a

face I would most love. The smile, the touch, the heart, the voice, the laugh, the

very soul itself. Every detail and feature to the last strand of hair, they would all be

Jenny’s.

Proposition: If I could choose from every man who breathes on this earth a man

for my brother, a man for my son, and a man for my friend, it would all be Lance.

I love them. I love them and they answer me with pain and torment. Be it sin, or

not sin. They have betrayed me in their hearts and that’s far sin enough. I can see

it in their eyes. I can feel it when they speak. They must pay for it and be punished.

I shall not be wounded and not return it in kind. I am through with feeble hoping. I

demand a man’s vengeance.

C. Our section of the book of Ezekiel today details the spiritual adultery – the utter

unfaithfulness – of the Jewish people

--It expresses the infidelity they practiced in their lives even in light of God’s mercy,

provision, and love for them

1. In the next part of the movie Camelot, Richard Harris as King Arthur debates

whether or not he should respond in the way his anger and hurt demands

--He actually considers tolerating their betrayal, ignoring their unfaithfulness, and

covering up their adulterous relationship – actually aiding them in their affair!

2. God is not so tolerant of spiritual adultery

a. He uncovers the infidelity of His people

b. He demands that severe discipline be administered

c. The love of God’s life will not be allowed to be unfaithful Him and continue in

their sinful ways

--He is a God of justice and righteousness

d. But God is also a God of mercy and grace

--He will discipline but He also will provide a way of restoration for the

relationship

E. The title of this morning’s message: “The Unfaithful Spouse”

--Let’s look together at the word of God as revealed to Ezekiel on this subject and

how its message fits into our lives today

1. God uses Jerusalem as a picture of all of His people

2. Their unfaithfulness is shocking but God’s love and grace is certainly amazing

I. THE ULTIMATE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

A. Israel’s spiritual heritage

--Ezek. 16:1-3 – “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her

detestable practices and say, This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and

birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.’”

1. Amorites

a. At their height, ruled area from Syria to Babylonia

b. An immoral people who worshipped Baal and Asherah

-Other nations referred to them as “beasts”

2. Hittites

a. Ruled a vast kingdom in Asia Minor that spread from modern Turkey eastward to Iraq

b. Worshipped a thousand false gods and goddesses

B. What God is telling Jerusalem is that their depravity, decadence, and immorality is on par with the

worst of the heathen nations

1. They have considered themselves to be special and above and beyond other people

--But God reminds them that their spiritual background and heritage is no better than anyone else’s

2. God reminds them that when He brought them out of Egypt, they were basically an abandoned,

unwanted child

a. Ezek. 16:4-5 – “On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water

to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with

pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into