25 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. (Ezekiel 16:14-15)

Israel could not handle her fame. Success is the ultimate test. Prosperity (not poverty) is the ultimate test of a person, of a nation etc. Many people can handle failure but few can handle success

Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

The Sin of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49)

1. Pride

2. Fullness of Food – Gluttony

3. Abundance of Idleness

4. Neglecting the poor and the needy

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, (Ezekiel 16:61-62)

God had just described Israel as being a prostitute who had broken the covenant of marriage and gone after other men. They chose to follow idols and the ways of the nations around them. Since they had chosen to be this way, God chose to destroy Israel and punish them severely.

However, after a time of punishment, God would then establish a new covenant with them. He would be the one to make the atonement for all of their sins even though they did not deserve it.

Chapter 16