This chapter is in a similar vein to chapter 16, except using even more lurid language. In this chapter it is quite explicit about what the allegory is portraying. First Israel (the northern kingdom) had formed alliances with Egypt and Assyria, then these nations attacked her and Assyria took over the nation.
Next, Judah (the southern kingdom) copied Israel, making alliances at times with Assyria, Egypt and Babylon. Babylon would turn on her with ferocious fury.
In fact it would be the Lord Himself who would stir up the nations against Judah. His purpose would be to put an end to Judah's conduct, so that she would no longer long for Egypt.
The question still remains as to why God uses such lurid language to describe all this. Today we talk of two organisations or nations "getting into bed with each other" when they enter agreement, but God goes much further than this. The reason partly harks back to that mentioned in chapter 16, ie that giving our trust to the wrong person or thing is the spiritual equivalent of adultery, but there is more to it than that. It describes the way we react and seek out allurement. We are always being tempted to put our trust in something other than God. The thing seeking our trust puts on a display seeking to draw us in, but worse than that we may actively seek out to be allured. Sometimes we want to be tempted. We will go to great lengths to put our trust in the wrong thing, when the real solution, faith in God, is close at hand.
When we do put our trust in the wrong thing in the end it will let us down at best, and at worst turn upon us and do great harm. Yet there is a deep seated desire to trust in anything other than God. God works to root out this desire.
Next, Judah (the southern kingdom) copied Israel, making alliances at times with Assyria, Egypt and Babylon. Babylon would turn on her with ferocious fury.
In fact it would be the Lord Himself who would stir up the nations against Judah. His purpose would be to put an end to Judah's conduct, so that she would no longer long for Egypt.
The question still remains as to why God uses such lurid language to describe all this. Today we talk of two organisations or nations "getting into bed with each other" when they enter agreement, but God goes much further than this. The reason partly harks back to that mentioned in chapter 16, ie that giving our trust to the wrong person or thing is the spiritual equivalent of adultery, but there is more to it than that. It describes the way we react and seek out allurement. We are always being tempted to put our trust in something other than God. The thing seeking our trust puts on a display seeking to draw us in, but worse than that we may actively seek out to be allured. Sometimes we want to be tempted. We will go to great lengths to put our trust in the wrong thing, when the real solution, faith in God, is close at hand.
When we do put our trust in the wrong thing in the end it will let us down at best, and at worst turn upon us and do great harm. Yet there is a deep seated desire to trust in anything other than God. God works to root out this desire.
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