Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Today in chapter 16, God tells Ezekiel an extended metaphor about his relationship with Israel.

And while the overall point of the metaphor is clear, every

commentary I read cautioned against getting into the weeds with this metaphor, simply because

every comparison breaks down at some level. So we'll just look at it through the lens of regular

glasses, not a microscope, because that's how most metaphors and parables are intended to be

received. So here's what we're looking at.

Israel is an abandoned orphan, unloved and left to die. But then someone, the king of the universe,

by the way, rescues this orphan and nurses her back to health. He uses 19 verbs to describe all

he does for the orphan when he rescues her. I passed by you, I saw you, I said to

you, live. I made you flourish. I spread the corner of my garment over you. I covered your nakedness. I made my

vow to you. I entered into a covenant with you. I bathed you with water. I washed off your blood. I

anointed you with oil. I clothed you with embroidered cloth. I shed you with water. I washed off your blood. I anointed you with oil. I clothed you with

embroidered cloth. I shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen. I covered you with silk.

I adorned you with garments. I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. I put a

ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.

I bestowed splendor on you.

But eventually, she loves the king's gifts more than the king himself.

And because of his care for her, she's beautiful.

So she trusts in her beauty to get her whatever she wants.

She uses all the king's gifts to lure in other lovers. She makes idols out of them.

And in a devastating turn of events, she forgets that she was once the helpless child who was

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